Office of the Historian

File No. 312.41/148.

The British Ambassador to the Secretary of State.

British Embassy,
Washington, February 26, 1914.

Dear Mr. Secretary: I am much obliged to you for your kindness in transmitting to me the translation of what is stated to be the report of a court martial proceeding held at Juarez on February 17, 1914.

This document will be transmitted to my Government together with others bearing on the case.

While reserving all remarks on the statements contained in this document I venture to observe that you have doubtless already taken most serious note of that part of the indictment in which it is alleged as the ground of a capital sentence that Mr. Benton had rendered assistance to the Federals. It is of course obvious that this charge would justify the assassination of every foreigner in any territory formerly occupied by Federals and subsequently conquered by Villa or vice versa. For every foreigner appears to be forced to provide assistance to the party in power. As your Government is alone in possession of the means of communicating with Villa, I am confident that the very serious fact above indicated has been already brought to his attention.

I take this opportunity of enclosing a newspaper extract containing a report of Sir Edward Grey’s statement in the House of Commons of to-day’s date.

I am [etc.]

Cecil Spring Rice
.
[Inclosure.]

[Untitled]

London, February 26, 1914.

Sir Edward Grey, the British Foreign Secretary, in discussing in the House of Commons to-day the inquiry into the killing of William S. Benton, the British ranchman, at Juarez, declared:

“We are satisfied that the Government of the United States is showing as much interest in this case and is doing as much to discover the facts as if Benton had been an American citizen. We can not ourselves do more at the present moment than send a consul to be present at whatever investigations may be made.”

Sir Edward Grey added:

“I will make a considered statement to the House of Commons next week of the view of the British Government as to what can be done further, either to get at the truth, if it is then in doubt, or to secure what justice may require.

“It is scarcely necessary to emphasize what everybody knows—the deep feeling which exists in this House and in the country in the matter, which His Majesty’s Government fully shares and which I hope it is fully recognized is no less deep because the expression of it has been so very restrained.”