Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-11-29
Venezuela Takes Steps to Avoid
a Clash With the Foreign
Powers
OFFERS SETTLEMENT OF CLAIMS
Details of the Proposed Settlement
Have Not Been Made Public, But
Venezuela Offer Believed to Have
Been Satisfactory to Great Britain
and Germany.

London, Nov. 29.-The Associated
Press learns that important steps were
taken in London yesterday with view
to satisfying all financial and diplo-
matte claims by foreign powers ana
bondholders against Venezuela. 1t is
maintained that If the contemplated
action MEETS with approval Germany
and Great Britain will have no cause
to take the vigorous steps now con-
templated. The details of the suggested
settlement have not been communl-
yet Their gist first will be made
known to the United States govern
ment, probably today. The medium of
such communication is one of the most
important Anglo American bankers.
Venezuela's propositions We're men
toned to Ambassador Choate yester-
day, but pending the result of the di-
rect representations at Washington no
action will be taken by the embassy
towards suggesting that Venezuela be
given time to submit her proposition
The new development in the crisis
which is regarded as hourly growing
more serious is due to the arrival in
Europe of q secret delegation from the
Venezuelan government empowered to
deal with the outstanding liabilities of
the republic. Until a suitable plan
could be arranged it was considered in
advisable to communicate with the for
egn ministers at Caracas, with whom
relations have become SO strained. Such
a plan has now, in the belief of this
delegation, been arrived at and unoffi
cially, thru the Anglo American bank
er, the attitude of the United States
will be ascertained. Besides the state
department will be put in a position to
be able to judge of the value of Vene-
zuela's offer and her good faith in the
matter.
It is explained that President Castro
has hitherto had no opportunity of TAX
ing up the question of national finance
but while he, himself, was engaged in
suppressing the revolution, he sent to
Europe the secret delegation referred
to, with the view of accomplishing
what was regarded as impossible of ex-
ecution at Caracas. Secrecy was re-
garded to be imperative, in view of
President Castro's belief that if it had
been known that Venezuela content
plated a new financial settlement he
would have been inundated with claims,
of every description and the dealings
with the bondholders would have pre-
scented many more difficulties.
The details of the plan which will be
communicated to the state department
are carefully guarded, but the Asso-
ciated Press is in a position to an
nounce that the main feature Is a uni
fication of all the outstanding govern
ment and government guaranteed loans
upon a basis of security much greater
than has been hitherto offered 1t is
strongly denied that the political move
ment is due to any desire on the part
of Venezuela ito spar for time with
Great Britain and Germany, and in
proof of this it is pointed out that the
secret mission left Venezusla before
her relations with Great Britain and
Germany had assumed the present
acute aspect.
Should the United States government
give its moral support, the plan will be
submitted to American bankers. The
Venezuelan delegation believes that it
is not too late to secure the necessary
facilities from Europe to bring about
settlement satisfactory to all.