Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-08
FIND SECRET ALLIANCE
EegOtiatsrs Hear Of Private Pact Between
Italy and Germany.
TWO POWERS KEEP ENGLAND IN DARK
Agree Among Themselves that ven-
ezueIan Settlement Must he same
for 10th, but Tell Britain
a.. , Nothing About It.
TWO POWERS KEEP ENGLAND IN DARK

% WASHINGTON, Feb. a7.4DLsclosure OF a
secret alliance between Germany and italy
constituted the most important development
in the Venezuelan situation tonight. This
fact has been made known to the British
ambassador and Il will put all the nego-
tiators more closely on their guard in the
drafting of the protocols which they hope
to submit to Mr.. Bowen during the next
few days.
The German-Italian alliance was old
news to Mr.. Bowen, he having learned Of
1t in Caracas before he left there. Gem
orally speaking, 1t Is intended TO secure
to Italy the same treatment in the allies
settlement with Venezuela as that received
by Germany and Great Britain.
Protocols must he Similar.
Mr.. Bowen has made it plain to both the
British ambassador and the German min
lister that he cannot afix his signature to
any protocols they may present which. are
not substantially Of the same character
as that submitted by the Italian ambassa-
dor. All three OF the first set Of protocols
have been received at the Italian. Brit
ish and German embassies, but their con-
tents are not known TO Mr.. Bowen, neither
have the allies representatives been ac-
Q1NAIAGQ % w WaAA ~ oCNhAAD " OoNA
others conventions.
Several important conferences took place
throughout the day at the British en-
bassy in an effort to reach an agreement
upon the protocols.
Regarding reference to The Hague, Mr..
Bowen has informed the allies that he
would not consent that one man be Sc
lected from the personnel OF The Hague
tribunal to sit as arbiter In the question
OF preferential Treatment. He wishes that
the court shall consist Of three n pref
erably Of i've members.
Explains Row with Bowen
Several more or less sensational stories
have been In circulation during the last few
days, which have caused considerable an
noyanee to the British ambassador and to
the other negotiators regarding the note
Mr.. Bowen addressed to the former last
Monday. That these reports may be cor
rected% the negotiators are DESTROYS that
the facts be steted.
On Tuesday. after receiving the note,
Sir Michael Herbert called on Mr.. Bowen
and asked that he withdraw the entire
note, as II was not diplomatic In char
aeter and Mr.. Bower refused.
The ambassador then asked that the SEN
tence beginning ION this side Of the water
We want peace and not alliances" be with
drawn.
Again Mr.. Bow n regretted that he could
not grant the request!
Finally the ambassador represented that
the latter part Of the sentence regarding
the continuance Of the alliance Of Great
Britain with Germany and Italy would
cause him embarrassment when submitted
to the italian ambassador and the German
minister. Mr.. Bowen replied that he would
be only too glad to do anything that would
further the negotiations and At once struck
out the Objectionable clause, which read;
And Il viii occasion great surprise and
regret when II becomes known that Great
Britain has even proposed continuing its
present alliance with Germany and Italy
one moment longer than II must.
with his one change The note wa finally
transmitted By the French ambassador to
the Italian and German embassies.
Many exchanges are going on between
Washington and European capitals as the
result 0 fthe efforts Of the allied repre-
sentatives to prepare satisfactory protocols.
The task Of drawing up the document II
very complicated. owing to the necessity
Tor providing against all contingencies and
framing a set OF agreements for the set
tlement of the claims that viii realst the
attacks Of astute international lawyers.
Meanwhile. messages are passing be-
tween Mr.. Bowen and the allies represents
atives IN an amicable manner and unless
! some new element is injected into the
situation By the allies (or Mr.. Bowen