MEXICAN CRISIS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLV, Issue 48, 25 February 1914, Page 5

MEXICAN CRISIS.

UNITED STATES' DILEMMA. NOT ANXIOUS TO INTERVENE. VILLA'S NEW STORYOF THE BENTON MURDER. (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) WASHINGTON, February 24. The Foreign Relations Committee conferred with the President, Mr Woodrow Wilson, yesterday, regarding the Benton case. It has arranged to confer with the Senate with closed doors over the whole Mexican question. It is understood in official circles that the United States will pass the facts relating to the Benton ease over to Britain without comment. It is difficult to decide what action the United States could take, a≤ unless she intervenes in Mexico, it will be impossible to bring General Villa to account. Sir Cecil Spring Rice (British Ambassador) has had frequent conferences with Mr W. J. Bryan (Secretary of State} regarding British refugees. If General Villa wins an important pending battle the United States is likely to consider the question of recognisuKr the rebels' belligerency. General Villa, in an interview at Mexico City, declared that Benton. after being court martialled. confessed that he had attempted Villa's life. Villa's quickness with his own revolver alone saved him. He added that he would execute any other foreigner under similar conditions. He had nothing to conceal. UNSATISFACTORY STATEMENT GREY'S COOL PHILOSOPHY. (Received 5.45 a.m.) LONDON", February 24. Sir Edward Grey, in reply to Mr Bonar Law, said that the Government had asked the United States to inform General Villa, that much feeling had been created in Britain by the murder of Benton. and also that he considered it indispensable that the British Consul should ' visit Juarez and supply an adequate report of the tragedy. Sir Edward Grey's statement, says thfl '•Daily Mail." was disappointing, 'a* it gave the impression of complete Britisli helplessness. It should be pointed out that General Villa had no right to court martial a British subject, as the country never recojniisod his belligerent standard. The statement was unsatisfactory by reason of the assumption that under no possible circumstances could Britain take direct steps to bring home the responsibility for the death of a British subject. Til is went far beyond the average Briton's idea of the country's disinterestedness towards Mexico. Sir Edward Grey seemed inclined to treat the murder with a cool philosophy, altogether out of harmony with the nation's feelings. Englishmen did not wish to embarrass Washington, but wo\i)d not consent to regard murder as a negligible incident. The newspapers in Paris, commenting on Bonton's execution, intimate that if the United States is unable to assure Europeans of their safety, the Powers will have themselves to undertake the protection of their countrymen. It is estimated that Trance has £400.000,000 invested in Mexican enterprises. GUILTY OF FOUR MURDERS. VILLA'S CHARGES AGAINST BENTON. (Received 2.5 p.m.) XL PASO, February 24. General Villa telegraphed to the American authorities that Benton was guilty of four murders, and frequently committed thefts of cattle. He attempted to assassinate him, and therefore was duly executed according to martial law. General Villa declared that he was ready to give an account of the execution to the entire world. He added that an American citizen named Vergara hud been hanged by the Federal troops after an American request for his release had been forwarded by the authorities. AMERICA.N INDIGNATION. INTERVENTION INEVITABLE. (Times-Sydney Sun Special Cable.) (Received 5.45 a.m.) WASHINGTON". February 24. The lobbies are humming with apprehension and indignation at Benton's death. The consensus of comment is that America must investigate the tragedy carefully. There is a tendency to be lieve that intervention is rendered practically inevitable. PARIS, February 24. The French Press gravely insists on the pure folly of President Wilson risking a conflict with England by humouring General Villa, and maintains that French interests require protection.