New-York tribune., 1903-02-04
BOWEN AND THE ALLIES.
Il DAY OF CONFERENCES.
Venezuelan Negotiations Continued
5oith a Prospect Of Agreement
[Br TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBUNE.

Icy TELEGRAPH The IRIBUNE-1
Washington. Feb 3.-VenezueIan affairs have
once more relapsed into the conference stage.
A meeting between the British and German AM
bassadors and Minister Bowen and a conference
between the representation of the three block
aiding powers the only events Of the day.
except that Baron Won sternburg had an inter-
view with the President The new development
in the affair from Minister Bowen's point of
view was the entrance of Mexico into the ranks
of claimant nations letter from the Mexican
Ambassad dor informing the Minister that Mexico
had claims which she desired to be placed in
the category of those of the peaceful powers
and particularly with those Of the United States.
This adds one more nation to the list of powers
likely to demur if any effort is made by the
allies to insist on their preferential demand.
The impression widely circulated after the
conference last night. that Minister Bowens
reply to the allies was in the nature of IN ulti-
matum is wholly unfounded. Minister Bowen.
after declining the proposition of the allies to
hypothecate % per cent OF the customs receipts
of Porto CabeHo and La Guayra to themselves
and allow 10 per cent to the other claimant na-
tions suggested that the matter Of preferential
treatment be left to The EtsIe tribunal fes SET
tIement and that the rest of the negotiations.
now completed. be made basis of agreement.
But he did not make this d demand. Venez-
ueIa is not in a position 10 issue UltinatUns.
and the fact that the representatives of the allies
called on Minister Bowen to-day thoroughly
dssfpates this idea.
CONTINUED ALLIANCE DEPRECATED.
The one significant feature of last nights con-
ference was that in pointing out that asserting
to preferential treatment for anything but
brief period of time meant perpetuatiou Of the
AngIo-(sermJn alliance Minister Bowen put his
finger on the one issue uppermost in the Off
ciaI mind in this city The suggestion that
preferential treatment carried with it the per-
petuation of the alliance was a new idea, but
one which became perfectly apparent when the
terms of the allies demand were known Min
lister Bowen's frank declaration that such con-
ditfon presented as it was by the British repre-
sentative under instructions from Lord Lans-
dovne. would create widespread surprise and
regret has been substantiated by the comment
in official circles to-day An alliance which
conpreherded two great European powers and
was directed against American country
could not fail to excite apprehension here TINS
was, the general tenor of to-day's criticism
That the alliance should he prolonged beyond
the limit 80 by the necessities or the sltuatioh
and that the suggestion should come from Great
Britain furnished his strongest argument to
Minister Bowen and he used it for its full value
MAY GO TO THE HAGUE. AFTER ALL
7, is however. unvarranted to conclude that
negotiations are. as result of last nights con-
ference. on the verge of rupture Such is not the
case The conference of the representatives OF
the allies to-day is understood to have been for
the purpose Of determining whether they should
recommend to their governments the acceptance
of Minister Bowen's original offer or of his sug-
eAstfon Of last night. The original offer was 20
grant preferential treatment in principle. there
by surrendering 10 the allies the point of honor
which. they urged. the preservation Of their
prestige required. This was 10 be accomplished
bv according to their claims preferential treat
raent for one month Further concessions OF
time up 10 six months have been prophesed.
and this idea is known TO find favor with Baron
Won Sternburg. Last nights proposal was 70
refer the matter OF preferential treatment TO
The Hague. sign an agreement covering the
other points and raise the blockade.
Despite th= known objection OF Baron Won
Sternburg 10 The Hague. the Impression is
gaining ground that in the end President
Roosevelts original suggestion Of reference to
this tribunal viii furnish the ultimate solution
for the present tangled condition That this
solution will be satisfactory To those IN au-
thority here is undeniabIe and this opinion has
been voiced by those high in official ct-cles to
day. hrst because i VIII carry out the crlSlhai
SUGGESTION OF the President erf therein con-
stitute an American victory. and second, De-
Causa il will innnle nsely increase the importance
of tbat tribunal result which VIII be hailed
with iov in this country Finally " VIII end the
,re.sent y-e~ina situation. which. without being
actually threatening at the present moment,
has alwavs the potentiahtes Of causing trouble
such a step win also Of necessity end the block
a1a a matter OF no little Importance. although
~ has been lost sight of under the stress Of the
present negotiations
CREDIT DUE To BOWEN
Reference to The Hague will In no way injure
tbe credit due 20 Mr.. Bowen for the manner in
which he has conducted the negotiations. His
original offer was indorsed b all the repre-
s4ptatives of the allies in this city. who recon-
NO BETTER TRAIN RUNS
than the PennsvIvauia Limited which leaves New
York daily for Chicago. Palatial accommodations