Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-12-15
MR.. BowENs WORK.

she will be used in the operations
against Venezuela
MR.. BowEN's WORK.
Washington, Dec 15.--Minister Bow
en- has confirmed the press reports to
the effect that the guns OF the allied
forces which bomharded Puerto Ca
bello Saturday We're directed entirely
at the Notifications and not at the
town.
Regrettable as II was, this statement
relieves the affair OF the first suspicion
that It constituted a violation Of inter-
national law, in the fact that "a hours
notice was not served Of the lombard
n.ent. The requirement as to notice
applies to unfortifed or fortified towns
where the fire must be directed upon
the inhabitants. and this was not the
case at Puerto Cabello, so that while
the officials here regret that the firing
took place they have as yet no cause
TO protest. But It is now probable that
the United States will break its at
tItude OF inactivity In the event that
m attempt is made to enforce the
peaceful blockade" toward an Ameri-
can ship. While the allies were con-
sldering the ways and means OF bring
ing Venezuela to terms and blockade
OF this character had been decided up
on. the German government inform
ed the United States that when the
blockade was established 1t would turn
back all shipping, though no effort
would be made to seize the ships. The
United States government made no re-
Spouse to this statement at the time
Cast year, not feeling called upon to
do SO. before presentation OF an actual
case. But now that the blockade Is
sought to be established. Secy. Hay
has informed the German government
that American ships should not
be interfered with in their
trading, except the Inhibition APP
plies to all shipping and further the
note intimates dlsapproval OF stop
page at all. In os doing the state de-
partment Is following precedent for
during the effort OF the powers to es-
tablsh a peaceful blockade" off Crete
In 1898, Secy. Sherman formerly record
ed a refusal TO be bound by 1t. II hap
pened that no American ship had oc-
casion to enter Il Cretan port during
the brief period Of time the blockade
was In force so the issue was not made
then. but in the present case with reg
ular lines Of American steamers en-
tering Venezuelan ports at short in
tervals, a test case may soon follow. II
is within the legal right OF the allies
to close these ports, but probably this
can be accomplished without protest
on our part only after formal declar-
alton of war. The hope Is growing here
that such a declaration can after all be
averted owing to the energy with
which Mr.. Bowen has acted.
The proposal Of President Castro TO
the allied powers for peaceful settle
ment was suggested by Mr.. Bowen and
It came to the state department
through his hands. II has been for
warded to London and Berlin through
the embassies here and as both Great
Britain and Germany have heretofore
protested a desire TO settle the issues
peaceably, IL is hopd that they will
avail themselves OF this opportunity.
The proposal did not mention the meth
cd OF arbitration, nor the limitations,
and the points OF doubt which may pre-
vent the acceptance OF the scheme Is
believed TO be castro's unwillingness TO
bind himself In advance TO the recogn-
ton Of the principale OF liability; he
would leave the arbitrator 10 deter
mine whether or not he is liable at all.
ORIGINAL PEACE PROPOSALS.
London. Dec. l5.-lt was learned this
afternoon that the proposals now be-
fore the British goernment are the orig
inal proposals forwarded by Minister
. Bowen but which have now received a
strong support from the United States
government