Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1903-01-31
Arbitration Ns,oI3tatss, However, Prelim-
mary Protocol Of Terms
PROBLEM IS TO GET POWERS TO NET
Bslligerent Allies Irss. on Preference Over
Peaceful O. aimants.
CASTRO MAY ALSO DEMAND DAMAGES
Blockade Hns Imposed Injury on Re-
public and Bin of Costs Has Been
Prepared by Bowen for
Presentation.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 3O-No answer has
yet come from the allies TO Mr.. Bowen's
last proposition.
The British ambassador sent long cable
gram to Lord Lansdowne yesterday, stating
what might be expected in case Great Brit
ain and it's two allies insisted upon the
preferential treatment, blockading the other
powers. The text Of the cablegram cannot
be published but It informed the Foreign
Office that Mr.. Bowen, in the event OF
a refusal OF his proposition would call on
the representatives Of the other claimant
powers in Washington and explain to them
that Venezuela was being forced by the
triple alliance to yield to a plan which
would affect seriously the interests OF
France. Belgium, Norway and Sweden, Den
mark, Spain. Holland and the United States.
When this step is taken II is expected
France will make representations at
once to London, Berlin and Rome protest
Ing against any interference with the pre-
vious arrangement 1t has made with Ven
ezuela for the settlement OF claims. France
may be Joined in this protest by the other
claimant nations.
France sounds United states.
There is reason to believe that the French
government already has sounded the United
States government, to learn how much in
common there may be between their inter-
ests in Venezuela. It is said that there Is
a strong resemblance between the claims
of the two nations. perhaps enough to link
them together in resistance to any policy
on the part Of the allies which would tend
TO destroy those interests.
For instance. the United States, through
a regular tribunal, the Venezuelan claims
commission. has secured judgment against
Venezuela for considerable sum Of money
which Venezuela has been paying in in
stallments Recently these payments have
been delayed, and as the money comes in
large part from the Venezuelan customs
the United States may have a sound
legal right to protest against any con-
duct on the part OF the allies which will
prevent its debtor from meeting it's obli-
cations to the United States,
France, by treaty and negotiations, has
secured what amounts to iudg-
ment against Venezuela, and claims that it's
debtor must not be destroyed or Venezue~
las means OF meeting its payments to
France impaired, as will be the case by the
adoption of the preferential treatment de-
manded by the allies.
These considerations are tending to draw
France and the United States together in
n policy lndl Is likely TO lAht issue Win
that OF the allies.
Baron Sewers, the minister OF The Neither
lands, called at the State department to-
day and talked over the Venezuelan sltua-
tion with Secretary Hay from the stand
point OF the allied claimant nations, in
which The Netherlands and the United
States are included. Baron Won Sewers has
been assured by Minister Bowen that the
claims Of The Netherlands will be duly
cared for and that as soon as the block,
aiding powers have withdrawn their ships
he will take up the claims OF Holland.
II Mr.. Bowen cannot adjust the claims
with the allies the matter will probably
have to go to The Hague tribunal. But
Just how the Venezuelan question is to
get before The Hague is not quite clear
The administration cannot believe that
there will be any renewal OF hostilities on
the Venezuelan coast. no matter how Mr..
Bowen's work turns out.
The Hague tribunal comes naturally into
sight as a port OF safety. But to place
case before the tribunal necessitates the
previous acceptance OF certain basic propo-
sitions OF the matters 10 be arbitrated and
as to the limitations to be placed on the
arbitrators. and II IS difficult to conjecture
kOw the different parties at issue can be
brought together on the complex and DIFF
ncult propositions involved in an arbitra-
tion protocol. For instance. one point
which undoubtedly will be difficult TO agree
on would be the results OF the present
blockade and whether Venezuela might
properly regard the damages inflicted on
Il as Offsets to the claims OF the powers
Mr.. Bowen. already looking ahead has
prepared a long list OF such injuries and
this list grows with every days continu-
Rnce of the blockade, but the representa-
tives OF the allies here would certainly
resist to the utmost the precaution OF any
such claims,
France objects 10 Allies Attitude.
PARIS, Jan. SO.-The Foreign once here
received today lengthy oficial advices Civ
ing details OF the rejection by the allies Of
the proposal that France and other eoun-
tries receive equal treatment in the Ven
ezuelan settlement
The French officials had not doubted that
equal treatment would be recognized and
this unexpected turn of events has caused
much surprise and concern. For the pres
ent Il does not appear TO be the purpose
of French authorities to assume an i'm
perative position. but rather set forth what
they regard as the manifest equities Of the
case.
After comforting with those in authority
an oficial said that the French position is
based on two essential principles:
The first Is that a pacific settlement be-
tween two sovereign nations is entitled at
least TO equal treatment with a war settle
ment. II not a precedent would be estab-
lished which would be an incent-
i've 10 war. as countries first adopt
ing force in the collection Of claims would
have superior rights to those observing the
usual pacific means OF settlement
The view is freely expressed here that th'
United States, France and Belgium are, IL
effect pacific allies. as they did not resor
10 force against NenezuelR. II is insisted
that the present attitude OF the allies tend
not only 10 prejudice the rights OF th'
pacific allies, out also establishes th'
dangerous principle that resort to war Il
preferable TO efforts 10 maintain peace.
The second principle OF the French posi-
,msnt is in the form OF a treaty which en-