§ Mr. MITCHELL-THOMSONCan the Foreign Secretary give the House any information with regard to the reported death of a British subject, Mr. Benton, in Mexico?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir E. Grey)Sir Cecil Spring-Rice telegraphed on the 20th instant to the effect that on the 19th instant he received a telegram from Mrs. Benton, dated El Paso, Texas, 18th February, to the following effect:—"Beg to advise Your Excellency that my husband William Benton, a British subject, yesterday went to Juarez. After heated discussion with Villa, he was thrown into gaol. To friends who visited Villa on his behalf, Villa said: I have not got him prisoner. I saw him this morning. I decline any more talk on the subject. Fear for his life. Request you to use necessary efforts to have my husband returned." We have no means of communicating with Villa direct, but at Sir Cecil Spring-Rice's request the United States Secretary of State at once ordered the United States Consuls at Juarez and Torreon to take immediate action. On the morning of the 20th the Secretary of State showed Sir Cecil Spring-Rice a telegram from the United States Consul stating that, on receiving instructions, he visited Villa at once, who said that Benton was dead, and expressed the wish that both Governments should know the fact that Benton came to his house armed, and attempted to kill him. Villa produced the pistol which he said Benton had brought with him. Sir Cecil Spring-Rice observed to the Secretary of State that public opinion in Europe might be seriously affected by Villa's attitude towards foreigners. Mr. Bryan, while declining responsibility for Villa's doings, said that the United States Consul was inquiring fully into the circumstances, and would report as soon as possible. Subsequently, Mr. Bryan informed Sir Cecil Spring-Rice that Benton was tried by court-martial and shot on 17th or 18th February on account of a plot to assassinate Villa. Sir Cecil Spring-Rice again expressed the hope that details would be communicated to him. Mr. Bryan promised to do so, and expressed his deep regret for the incident. Before this incident occurred, the United States Government had, at our request, impressed upon the leaders of the Constitutionalists the importance of respecting foreign lives and 1411 property. I should like to add that the fact that we are communicating with the Government of the United States does not, of course, imply that they have any responsibility for what has taken place; the communications have been made because the United States alone can, in this in. stance, exercise any influence to discover the truth and to get justice done. Juarez is close to the United States frontier, and we ourselves have no means of exercising influence in this region under present conditions. I am still in communication with Sir Cecil Spring-Rice and the United States Government as to what further steps can be taken.
§ Sir J. D. REESCan the right hon. Gentleman say if the Government knows anything of the two other Europeans who were stated to have accompanied Benton, and have not been since heard of?
§ Sir E. GREYNo; I have not the information, but I have already telegraphed to Sir Cecil Spring-Rice suggesting what steps it may be possible to take in this very disturbed region to ascertain the facts?
§ Sir F. BANBURYMay we understand that the right hon. Gentleman will do all he can to ascertain the exact facts?
§ Sir E. GREYThat is the object of my communication both with Sir Cecil Spring-Rice and through him with the United States Government.