The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-29
Britain, Germany and Italy Asked to
Accept Bowen's Latest Proposal
and Lift the Blockade.
ALLIES TO BE PREFERRED
THEIR CLAIMS ALONE TO BE PAID
OUT OF CUSTOMS RECEIPTS.
Belgfans Probably VIII Have Charge
of Collections I'm Behalf of the
Three Powers.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 2s.-The Italian and
British ambassadors and the German
charge daffaires at a joint conference to-
day agreed to cable their governments urg-
ing prompt acceptance of Mr.. Bowens
last proposition to enable the lifting of the
Venezuelan blockade at once. In this cable
gram, which was sent at noon, it was sug-
gested that consideration of the details of
the proposition be postponed until after the
signing of the preliminary protocol. Signor
Mayor des Planches, the Italian ambassa-
dor, as the ranking representative of the
allies, called on Mr.. Bowen this afternoon
and informed him of the dispatch of the
joint cablegram to the powers and ex-
pressed the hope that it would expedite the
arrival Of the final answer.
Partial confirmation has been obtained
here of cable dispatches that Belgium is to
take prominent part in the administration
of the customs receipts. Mr.. Bowen de-
clines to discuss the details of his plan,
however, until the blockade has been
raised. Late this afternoon he gave out a
brief statement of the diplomatic debt Of
Venezuela and the methods for it's future
adjustment. In round numbers this debt
amounted on Dec. 81, 1901, to something
over s14, 900, and consisted of claims
which had previously been adjusted since
that date. Owing to the almost constant
state of revolution which has prevailed in
Venezuela, no payments have been made
on the debt Mr.. Bowen's plan provides
that IL per cent. of the customs receipts of
all the Venezuelan ports shall go toward
the payment of this debt This arrange
ment, it is stated, will interfere In no wise
with the plan of Mr.. Bowen, submitted to
the powers for the settlement of the unad-
Indicated claims. For the payment of the
latter 30 per cent. of the customs duties OF
the two ports OF Puerto Cabello and La
guayra have been offered in pledge by Mr..
Bowen. These ports were selected because
they would be the last to fall into the
hands of the revolutionists. Assurances
have been given the French government
that Ii shall receive fair treatment in the
settlement Of its claim and that no pre-
vious arrangements which 1t has made
with Venezuela shall be interfered with.
The French charge daffaires. NJ. Pierre de
Margerie, to-day received instructions from
the Foreign Office at Paris authorizing him
to conduct negotiations with Mr.. Bowen
whenever the latter desires 10 take up the
French claims.
No instructions have been received AS yet
by the Belgian minister, Baron Moncheur,
relative to the settlement OF the claims of
his government but they are expected In
a short time.
An Italian consul has been ordered to
Washington from Venezuela with all the
papers bearing on the claims of his govern
ment These will be placed at the disposal
of the Italian ambassador. The latter Is
being congratulated on his diplomatic tri-
umph in securing pro rata payment or the
claims for the powers, as this means much
for the Italian government.
From the highest authority it was learned
tonight that the publication by the LONDON
Foreign Office that Great Britain and not
Germany sought the alliance against Vene-
zuela was brought about by representations
from the German Foreign Office. 1t is said
that Germany had threatened to publish
| the diplomatic exchanges between the Ger
man and British Foreign Office unless
| Great Britain Immediately should bear the
| responsibility for the ALLIANCE This threat
was induced by the anti-German feeling
aroused in the United States by events in
Venezuelan waters.