Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-29
,etails of Agreement Kept Secret Until
American Authorities Report,
UNITED STATES PRESIDENT CONSULTED
Roosevelt Notified Before Final Action is
Taken in Europe,
CASTRO SENDS SECRET COMMISSION
Delegates Negotiate in England
Owing 20 strained Relations with
European Ministers at Cara
cas- During Revolution.

LONDON, Nov. 2S--Important steps were
taken in London today to satisfy all the
diplomatic claims by powers and bond
holders against Venezuela. 1t is main
tained that II the contemplated action
meets with approval Germany and Great
Britain will have no cause to take the
vigorous steps now contemplated.
The details OF the suggested settlement
have not been communicated to the Euro
pean governments as yet.
Their gist will first be made known to
the United States government. probably to-
morrow. The medium of such communica-
tion is one OF the most important Anglo
American bankers.
Venezuelas propositions were mentioned
to Mr. Choate today, but pending the result
OF the direct representations at Washing
ton no action will be taken by the embassy
toward suggesting that Venezuela be given
time to submit its proposals.
The new development in the position,
which is regarded as hourly growing more
serious, is due to the arrival in Europe OF
secret delegation from the Venezuelan
government empowered to deal with the
outstanding liabilities of that republic.
Until a suitable plan could be arranged IL
was considered inadvisable to deal with
the foreign ministers at Caracas, with
whom relations have become so strained.
Such a plan has now, in the belief OF the
delegation, been arrived at, and, unofncially,
through an Anglo American banker, the at
titude of the United States will be ascer-
tained. The State department will also be
put in a position to Judge of the value of
Venezuelas offer and good faith in the
| matter.
It is explained that President Castro has
hitherto had no opportunity Of taking up
| the questt of national finances, but while
engaged in suppressing the revolution he
sent to Europe the secret delegation re-
| ferred to, with the view of accomplishing
| what was regarded as Impossible Of ex-
| ecution at Caracas Secrecy was regarded
as imperative in view OF President Castro's
belief that II it became known that Vene-
zuela contemplated a new financial settle
ment he would he inundated with claims
of every description and the dealings with
the bondholders would have presented many
difficulties. TIE details of the plan which
will be communicated to the State depart
ment are carefully guarded, but the main
! feature is a unification of the outstand-
! ing government and government guaranteed
| loans on a basis Of security much greater
than has been hitherto offered.
| 1t is strenuously denied that the present
| movement is due to any desire of Vene-
zuela to spar for time" with Great Britain
and Germany and in proof of this IL is
, pointed out that the secret commission left
! Venezuela before its relations with Great
Britain and Germany had assumed the pres
| ent aspect.
Should the United States 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 concerned.
COIOmbIans Are Defeated.
CARACAS. Venezuela, Nov. 2s.-The Col
ombian invaders under Generals Garbiras
and Espiritu Morales, after several de-
feats, were obliged to recross the frontier
on November 25. They left numerous pris-
oners in the hands OF the Venezuelan troops.
among them being the chief of stan, Bri-
cano, who was abandoned in a wounded
condition, and quantity of ammunition.
The revolutionary general Matoa IL attn