The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1903-02-03
ULTIMATUM TO The ALLIES
DEMAND FOR PREFERENTIAL
TREATMENT REFUSED.

the Compromise Proposition OF the
BIOckading Powers-TaGes n Firm
stand-RefeEence to The Hague Now
More Likely.
Washington, Feb. 2.-Herbert w.
Bowen, Venezuela's representative in
the. negotiations at Washington for a
settlement of the claims against that
country, has sent through the British
ambassador here what amounts practi-
cally to an ultimatum to the allied
powers of Great Britain, Germany and
Italy, regarding their insistence for
preferential treatment in the settle
ment of their claims against Venezuela.
This note, which the British ambassa-
dor received shortly before o'clock to-
night, was cabled at once to London,
| copies of it being transmitted to the
! italian and German embassies for
| transmittance to Rome and Berlin. It
is in reply to the proposition submitted
at joint conference of the negotiators
this afternoon by the British ambas-
sador that the allied powers be allowed
two thirds of 80 per cent of the Gus
| tom receipts Of the ports of La Guaira
and Porto Cabello, and that the United
States and the other claimant nations,
France, Belgium, Holland, Denmark,
Spain and Norway and Sweden content
themselves with the remaining one
third of this percentage, that is 10 per
! cent of the receipts of these two ports.
| In the note received by the British
| ambassador from Mr.. Bowen tonight
the latter refuses point blank the pro-
! position for 20 and 10 per cent. divi-
sion on the ground that to recognize
| the principle it embodies would be Of
fensive to modern civilization. In view
of the fact that the negotiators are
agreed on all save the question of pref
| erential treatment, the ambassador is
informed that Venezuela has decided
to submit all questions to the Hague
arbitration tribunal.
Acceptance of this proposition, Vene-
zuela contends, carries with it rails
ing Of the blockade, the general under
stnding being that the blockade would
end when the negotiators at Washing
ton had reached an agreement.
1t is understood that in refusing this
last proposition submitted by the Brit
ish ambassador on behalf of the allies
Mr.. Bowen takes the ground that he
cannot accept in principle the conten-
| tion that blockades and botnbardment
of forts, and the consequent killing Of
helpless men, woman and children, en-
titles any power or alliance of powers
to preferential treatment at the hands
of a civilized nation.
| 1t is claimed that should the peace
! powers and the blockade power agree
| to such a principle they would incor-
| porate In the law of nations a doctrine
| in conflict with the tenets of all modern
day ethics.
| Moreover, Venezuela, it is stated re-
| CARDS the preferential demands of the
powers as Objectionable, because it
would enable the continuance of the
triple alliance of Great Britain, Ger
many and Italy for a period Of six
years or more, and in accepting it Ven
ezuela would be encouraging and abet-
! ting the maintenance of hostile alli-
ances against herself. The British am
bassador is informed in the note that
Americans north and south want peace
and not alliances.
/ Venezuela has taken special excep-
tion to the action of the British gov
ernment in initiating this last PROPOSE
ton by which Great Britain can hold
fast to Germany and Italy in their alli-
ance against Venezuela until the last
cent of the claim is paid, The predic-
| ton is made in her response that sur
prise and regret of the keenest sort
will be felt throughout the Americas
when it is known that Great Britain
has even proposed continuing her pres
ent alliance with Germany and Italy
one moment longer than is necessary,
particularly in view of her previous
representations to the effect that she
was anxious to end the Venezuelan dis
pute and call off the alliance at the ear
! Iiest possible time.
! In suggesting that the question of
preferential treatment be referred to
The Hague, it is understood that Mr..
I Bowen does so in view Of the fact that
| this question is the only one which re-
mains in dispute. The allies are advis-
} ed that Venezuela is desirous that all
| the negotiators shall stand by what has
been already agreed on. The British
/ ambassador declined tonight to make
public the text of the note addressed to
! him, as it is really note to the allied
powers, but it became known that it
was along the lines here set forth and
concluded with an appeal for justice to
The Hague tribunal regarding the con-
! tention of the allies for preferential
payment, and an assertion that such
action carried with it the raising of the
! blockade. Some significance may at
| tach to these notes in view of the fact
that before dispatching them to the
British embassy Mr.. Bowen was in
conference with Secretary Hay.
! Whether the allies will accept as final
what Mr.. Bowen has had to say or will
assume a conciliatory attitude and ask,
as had been suggested both by Mr..
Bowen and by the representatives of
| the allies in this city for preferential
| treatment for limited period, no one
| in Washington feels competent to pre-
dict. The position taken by Mr.. Bowen
! it is stated, has received the endorse
ment Of all the unallied claimant ma
tions, in which number is included the
| United States.
49, no,o foropao +L,ie