Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-24
IOF NO IMPORTANCE
OFFICIAL GERMAN VIEW, %
HERR BALTAZzps REQUEST.
It is Assumed That There Has Been a
misunderstanding Minister Draft
ing The Hague Protocols.

BERLIN, February 24.-The German for
eign office attaches no Importance to the
request made to Mr.. Bowen by Herr Bal
tazzi. the former German charge d ahaires
at Caracas, for the Immediate payment OF
the 81. 500 forming the first installment OF
the sum to be paid to Germany by Ven
ezueIa, but which Is not due until March
Is. Foreign Secretary Won Richthofen sent
no such instructions to Baron Won Stern
burg, the envoy at Washington, and 1t Is
assumed that there has been a misunder-
standing in the matter. The foreign office
does not doubt that Venezuela will strictly
carry out the terms Of the protocol.
Now a Draft Ia Wanted.
Having failed in the effort to obtain from
Mr.. Bowen the immediate Payment in cash
Of the $500 pounds sterling. Germany has
requested Mr.. Bowen to give draft for the
amount payable IN Caracas March Is. This
latter request was made on behalf of the
German embassy by Herr Baltazzi, former
ly charge d'affaires at Caracas, but who
has since come to Washington and has been
assisting the embassy In the pending nego-
tiations.
Mr.. Bowen was again forced to decline
this request, which he did politely, at the
same time reminding Herr Balta1Zf that
he was bound by the terms Of the protocol,
paid at Caracas on the 18th Of March to
the diplomatic representative OF Germany.
Just what reason was given by the Ger
man representative for making the request
presumed, would be negotiable, and the re-
suit would be that the Germans could Inn
mediately obtain the money 1t called for.
Preparing the New Protocols.
Minister Bowen today roughed out the
draft of the protocols, which he hopes will
be signed by the allied powers. specifying
the conditions under which The Hague
tribunal will be called upon to settle the
question Of preferential treatment In the
payment of the Venezuelan indemnities.
Then he submitted this document to Judge
Penfeld, the solicitor Of the State Depart
ment, and after the latter had suggested a
few changes, which were readily made, Mr..
Bowen prepared to submit the document to
the representatives Of the allied powers.
To Leave Arbiters to the Gear.
Mr.. Bowen has proposed to the allied
powers Of Great Britain, Germany and
Italy that the Car Of Russia be invited to
name the three arbiters who. sitting as
The Hague tribunal shall pass upon the
justice Of the contention of the allies for
preferential treatment. This suggestion of
Mr. Bowen has already been approved by
the State Department, the officials Of this
government expressing their satisfaction
that this important task should be intrusted
to the Russian sovereign.
In it's incomplete state the protocol which
will serve as pattern for all three has not
yet been made public, but 1t is understood
that as one interesting feature 1t will prob
ably provide for a conduct Of the proceed
ings at The Hague in the English language.
Another feature of the protocol is that the
arbiters themselves and not the signatories
to the protocols shall select the facts upon
which they shall base their decision as to
whether or not the preferential treatment
shall be accorded mr. Bowen laid copies
of these protocols before the allies repre-
sentatives this afternoon and they were
promptly cabled by them to their respective
foreign Offices.