THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 1914. THE BENTON CASE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15550, 6 March 1914, Page 6

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 1914. THE BENTON CASE.

There is now very conclusive evidence that Mr. Benton, an Englishman, was murdered in Mexico, either by one of the rebel " generals" or by his direct orders- Not the slightest evidence of any crime on Mr. Benton's part has been offered, nor of his formal " execution," while the impediments thrown in the way of any impartial investigation have convinced the British representative that influential persons are interested in concealing the truth. As the ease stands, therefore, the British Government is confronted by the national duty of obtaining satisfaction for the failure of a friendly government to defend an unoffending British subject or to bring his murderers to trial. There can be no question as to the imperativeness of this duty even if public opinion had not been aroused as it is wherever the facts of the Benton case are known. Such cases cannot possibly arise between civilised governments, for not only is it a point of honour to guard inoffensive foreigners against attack or molestation, but it is a good and ancient custom to make all possible allowance when foreigners come into conflict with law, if special consideration is solicited by their governments. The murderer of a Chinaman receives the same treatment in New Zealand as the murderer of a citizen, and even Russian prisons have opened their doors to release British subjects. Whatever may be our racial animosities or our international rivalries, it is universally and unanimously recognised throughout civilisation that though aliens may be denied admission to any country they cannot be denied protection and justice after their admission. This accepted principle of international law is very largely due to the stand made by England, which for centuries, has declared that her subjects, wherever they wander, are under her protection and that any aliens admitted to her territories enjoy a similar security- East and west, north and south, wars have been waged, expeditions made and battles fought, in the assertion of these great British traditions. The out-come is not only that the British subject can traverse the earth in full confidence that his Imperial Government will protect him, but also that a high standard has been everywhere set in this important phase of international relations. The slaying of Mr. Benton was more than a violation of an international understanding; it was a challenge to the British principle that the loyal subject never foregoes the protection of his flag.

In spite of armaments and jealousies, the relation of the nations to one another is visibly improving as civilisation develops. It was necessary for Cromwell to send a fleet to the Barbary Coast to assert the right of Englishmen to sail the seas unmolested as in later years it was necessary to send an allied force to Pekin to relievo the attacked Legations. Wherever there is orderly government, however, there is rarely any need for threats or force in order to obtain ordinary security and justice for foreigners. The Dane is as safe in Japan as the American and the Bulgarian has no cause for alarm in the United States. Self-respecting nations respect and protect the foreigner among them as a point of honour, but barbaric and anarchical states have still to be coerced on occasion In most cases this coercion is applied very easily, by means of naval pressure at seaports; in other cases expeditions are necessary; in many cases, territorial forfeiture is the fine imposed for failure to respect foreign rights. Mexico, unfortunately, is so peculiarly situated at the present time that no simple procedure would avenge the murder of Mr. Benton. The Mexicans are quite unfit to govern themselves, in any case, having the combined vices of Aztecs and Spaniards with little of the virtues of either. They are savages, slightly painted with the gauds of civilisation. They owe their independence solely to the Monroe Doctrine and their period of prosperity solely to an exceptional dictator. Grown old and enfeebled the once iron-handed Diaz was unable to retain power and revolution expelled him. In the few short years which have elapsed Mexico has gone from bad to worse and has not yet reached the nadir of her descent. Nothing short of conquest is likely to bring these irresponsible savages to reason and another conquest of Mexico does not appeal to the modern Americans, whose government has what may be termed a pre-emptive right to undertake that task. The murderers of Mr. Benton can only be brought to justice with the establishment in Mexico of some responsible authority. At present there is no such authority and the Bitish Government apparently recognises that a wise policy is to assist the United States in the task of restoring a responsible administration at Mexico City.

The Washington Government shrinks from territorial expansion as nervously as ever did Lord Granville or Mr. Gladstone, but the destinies of great nations are sometimes stronger than statesmen, as Britain has often found and as America will find in her turn. la Mexico are some 15,000,000 people, mostly Indian and wholly barbaric. Domestic tyranny and destructive partisan warfare are congenial to them, and they have a superstitiously ferocious hatred of all foreigners and particularly of Americans. The Spaniard made very short work of the ancient Aztec empire, but the ferocity of the conqueror has been impressed upon the conquered and modern Mexico is not to be invaded with impunity. Mr. Wilson is exhausting his diplomacy in the effort to establish at Mexico City a stable and responsible government and it is not desirable that the British Government should hamper him by taking immediate action or demanding instant American consideration in the Benton case. But the Benton case is, nevertheless, compelling American intervention. It came at the crucial moment when American patience was giving way and popular opinion was inclined to accept a Mexican war as a necessary evil. There were other assassination cases, involving Americans, but Mr. Benton was known to many Americans as an honourable and law-abiding man, and an exemplary resident. American national pride cannot always tolerate such anarchy on its borders, but public opinion always needs some popular cause for action. The wrongs of Cuba were seen very clearly after the destruction of the Maine and the anarchy of Mexico has been brought home to the civilised world by the Benton case.