The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-02-07
BOWEN AND HERBERT.


WASHINGTON. Feb. denomination of
the London dispatch of yesterday TO the
effect that Mr.. Bowen and the British am
bassador at their interview on Monday had
a somewhat heated argument was obtained
here to-day. Indeed 1t is stated that should
the character of the cablegrams that the
British ambassador has been sending to
his government regarding the attitude of
Minister Bowen become public the country
would be furnished with sensational diplo-
matte incidents. 1t is the opinion of the
Venezuelan negotiators other than the Brit
ish ambassador that the latter is directly
responsible for the abrupt breaking off of
negotiations with MIR. Bowen. 1t is the
opinion in official circles here that Minister
Bowen has an absolute right, acting for
Venezuela of course, TO object to Presi-
dent Roosevelts acting as arbiter. To do
so would cause pain 10 Mr.. Bowen, whose
admiration for Mr.. Roosevelt is well known,
but he feels obliged to keep well in mind
the fact that he Is here not as an Ameri-
can, but a representative of Venezuela.
The British ambassadors conduct has re-
suited in several important details of the
momentouS conference of Monday last leak
ing out, and these are now substantiated
by the other negotiators present. 1T seems
that when the British ambassador, who
took the lead at this conference, had nm
ished reading the cablegram of Lord Lans-
downe containing his last proposition for
20 and 10 per cent. division OF the custom
between the allies and the other claimant
nations, respectively, Mr.. Bowen at once
remarked in an emphatic tone that the
proposition was but another scheme TO
trick Venezuela into abetting an alliance
against her for six years and probably long
er He added that he would not consent TO
any scheme for continuing the triple ALI
ance one day longer than he was forced TO-
diplomat stated afterward: 1T was
Mr.. Bowen who exploded the bombShell
the moment the proposition was made.
hor hat ifain w
ing secretly to continue her alliance with
Germany were resented by the British am
bassador though he showed no Ill feellng
at the conference. After the conference, IT
is said, he sent a cabegram to London stat
ing that he was dispieased with the conduct
of Mr.. Bowen, and that If it were left to
him to decide he would not continue ne
gotiations with him. He expressed to his
conferees of the diplomatic corps the great
est indignation that an ambassador from
the court of ST. James should be SO treated.
On the other hand, both the Italian am
bassador and the German minister nave
taken occasion to say several times since
the Monday conference that Mr.. Bowen has
treated all the negotiatorS with uniform
courtesy and surprising generosity through
out the negotiations, and only yesterday
both Of these diplomats called and ex-
pressed thanks for his consideration of
them. Mr.. Bowen must stand up for
Venezuela 1t was explained. III he did
not he would forfeit our respect.
Another feature of the last twenty-four
hours has been the receipt of an exceed
ingly tart cablegram from Lord Lansdowne
at the British embassy. The cablegram, IL
is stated, went so far as to remind the
British ambassador that he was here to
obey orders.
LONDON, Feb. .6-At the Foreign Office
here this morning il was said that the off,
Gals regarded the Herbert-Bowen incident
as closed and that they did not consider
it to be the slightest bar to satisfactory
settlement of the Venezuelan dispute. 1t
was added that the ambassador has the
complete cooperation of his colleagues.