Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-01-26
Believed at Washington That
the Venezuelan Difficulty
is Near an End
SOME OF THE DEVELOPMENTS
Minister Bowen Has Hopes Of an Early
Agreement to Raise the Blockade, as
the Guarantees Offered by Venezuela
Are Thought to Be Reasonable and
Therefore Satisfactory.

ence between Minister Bowen and Sir
Michael Herbert, the British ambassa-
dor, beginning at noon, followed by fur
|ther conferences between Sir Michael,
ambassador, and Count Quadt, the Ger
man charge d'affaires, indicated diplo-
matte activity in Washington yesterday
over the Venezuelan situation. All the
negotiators decline to discuss the results
of the meeting, but general statements
by them that the situation warrants
hope Of early relief is. significant of
what has been accomplished during the
last twe4ty-four hours.
BY this time the London, Berlin and
Rome foreign offices are in possession
of Mr.. Bowen's third proposition stat
ing n nature of the guarantee he is
prepared to offer for Venezuela, If his
initial request is complied with IN the
blockade raised at once Strict reti-
cence is maintained by all the negotiat-
ors as to the nature of this guaranty.
and until the join reply OF the powers is
received this will not be disclosed.
Count, Quadt has been advised by the
German foreign office of the reasons for
the bombardment of the San Carlos
forts. This explanation agrees with that
cabled by the Associated Press from
Berlin.
Minister Bowen, and also the state
department are greatly impressed with
the attitude Of the representatives in
Washington of the allies thruout the
present negotiations. While acting at
all times under instructions from their
foreign Offices, they have expedited
matters considerably by their straight
forward manner of dealing with Vene-
zuela as representative. This fact has
especially appealed to the Washington
officials, who. while not participating in
the pr~eliminarles necessarily, are vital
ly interested in their results. Altho
Germany is sending a special envoy
here to conduct the negotiations for
her, Minister Bowen has taken occas-
ion to express his absolute satisfaction
with the manner in which Count Quadt
has represented his government. The
German charge of course has been act
ing under instructions from Berlin, but
the point was made yesterday by Mr..
Bowen and by an official of the WASH
inSton government hat the activity of
Gernrtny's representative from the day
of Mr.. Bowen's arrival and the judg-
ment he has shown, has done much to
aid in bringing about an ultimate solu-
ton of the present trouble.
The important fact was developed
yesterday that the triple alliance
against Venezuela was far more com
prehensive than was supposed at first.
The agreement between Great Britain,
Germany and Italy involved not only a
joint i~nitiativce action for the collection
OF their claims, but each of the three
powers pledged itself to lift the block
ade simultaneously. This fact was
learned from a European diplomat who
is acquainted with the details of the al
lance. and explains the fruitless efforts
mad by Ambassador Meyer at Rome.
and Mr.. Henry White, the American
charge in London, as well as by Mr..
Bowen, acting for Venezuela to favor
the agreement and secure the consent
at least of n of the allies to lift the
blockade. The reply OF the powers,
therefore, necessarily will be joint. A
favorable answer to Minister Bowen's
last proposition, and 1t is the belief of
all the negotiators today, as well as of
the administration, that the answer will
be favorable, will mean the immediate
withdrawal OF all the blockading ships,
while ~decffnation to accept the guaran-
ty offered by Mr.. Bowen must result In
the continuance OF the blockade by all
three allies.