Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1903-02-05
Baron Won stsrnbsrg Presents Gable and
Expresses Renewed Hope.
REBELS cLAHoR AT CARACAS GATES
Capital Is Hastily Fortified and Citizens
Pressed Into Military Service.
CASTRO REMAINS COOL AS CUCUMBER
Exhibits TireIess Energy, Directing
Operations in Person and Giving
y Confidence of His Ultimate Sue
cess go Frightened CitIsens.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 4.-Mr. Bowen has
consented to allow the allies three months
preference in the collection of their claims
and the ministers here have cabled the
offer to their home governments, recon-
mending that It be accepted.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 4-Three months
preferential treatment for Great Britain,
Germany and Italy promises to be the COM
promise upon which the allies and Mr..
Bowen will agree as a condition precedent
to the raising OF the blockade.
This is the modification proposed by
Baron speck Won sternberg to the original
concession Of Mr.. Bowen OF one month
during which time the allies exclusively
should receive the 30 per cent of the Gus
toms receipt Of the ports of Puerto Cabelio
and La Grayra.
II the German foreign oflce approves the
suggestion, Italy, 1t Is expected, will throw
its support to Germany. France intimated
its willingness to accept the plan, as have
the other claimant nations, and the united
efforts OF the nations will be put forward
TO influence the London Foreign ONCE
The British ambassador was an carly
caller at the state department today, where
he spent some time in conference with
Secretary Hay He did not call on Mr..
Bowen. but went at once to the German
embassy, where It is assumed he informed
his government OF the willingness Of the
United States to accept the German sug
gestion Of three months preferential treat
ment for the allies
The German minister spent two hours
or more in conference with Mr.. Bowen this
morning. From Mr.. Bowen's hotel he went
TO the British embassy to participate in
Joint conference OF the representatives here
of the allies, at which the three months
scheme which already had been submitted
to the German foreign ofhce as having
the endorsement OF Mr.. Bowen was taken
up.
Important advices on the question Of the
settlement Of the Venezuelan claim reached
tho German embassy tonight from Berlin
and were communicated to Mr.. Bowen by
Baron Won sternberg. the German minister.
Their purport ID not known hut the reply
is believed to be favorable to a settlement
as Baron Won Sternberg. subsequent to
their receipt expressed himself as hopeful
of an early settlement
Rebels Reach Caracas Gates.
NEW YORK, Feb. Am army OF revolu-
tionists is now almost al the gates Of Car
acas, says the Herald's Caracas correspond
ent, and everywhere in the city prepara-
tions are being made 20 repel an attack
Trenches are being dug and citizens are
being drafted into the military ranks. An
imals are being seized for the government
service.
President Castro is as cool as the
proverbial cucumber and is displaying a
tireless energy. He is on horseback di-
recting the defensive operations.
he OutloOE nargOnS
believe that the government will triumph
over the divided revolutionary leadership
and the unsoldierly crowds Of the insurrec"
tion.
The Matos revolution has at last reached
a point where some decisive action must
take place within a very few days.
The bioekaders have notified the La
Guayra authorities that II they VeneZ-
uela soldiers in town they will she'll the
fort. This notification is inexplicable to
the La Guayra authorities, as Venezuelan
soldiers occasionally pass in the streets on
their way to fight the revolutionists.
La Guayra residents look upon the noti-
hcation as a new tactic OF the Germans tc
assist the Matos revolution and are asking
where is the peaceful blockade?"
Britain VIII Not BACK Down.
LONDON. Feb. lit might be fairly sait
that the allies now feel the absolute neces-
sity Of forcing from Venezuela at leas
some apparent concessions.
OficiaIly Il is pointed out that the pow
ers have now conceded everything they arr
willing to grant, so far as the time, th'
amount and the methods OF payment arr
concerned. The ministers OF the three gov
ernments feel they cannot 80 before thei
countrymen admitting that they did no
even secure separate consideration for thei
claims. Rather than do so Germany is II
favor of letting the whole question go t
The Hague court. Great Britain Is in
olined to support this determination, feel
ing that the outcome at The Hague coul,
not be worse than the effect OF a complete
backdown at this stage of the proceedings
disappointed with Bowen.
BERLIN. Feb. 4.-some disappointment 1
felt by the German Foreign once oficial
az Mr.. BOwen's attitude In his conference
with the ambassadors In Washington.
Mr.. Bowen, t is said here, impreSses tn
representatives OF the allies as allowing hi
fighting spirit TO overbear his desires 70
q peaceful settlement His dsmeAnor a
the conferences is described as that Of a
advocate defending an Innocent, persecute
client, Besides, the foreign once regard
Mr.. Bowen's hrst proposition as. havin
Doen cnduBeu AIleF IL Mus accepted ana
is held that Il was not clearly stated an
for that reason was misunderstood.
The British and German government
thought MIR, Bowen proposed setting apaI
so per cent OF the customs OF La Guayra an
Puerto Cabello for the liquidation OF thel
claims alone, and also accepted Il proviE
ionslly. Later on, figuring on the future r.
eeipts on the basis OF receipts in the pas
Il was estimated that Il would take 81
years 20 pay the nrst-c class claims.
The two governments then replied TO NJ
Bowen In substance;
'siz years is rather a long time. but y
accept"
Then they learned that the so per eel
wss 10 include the claims OF all eountrie
This Great Britain and Germany said WI
not enough, as instead OF six years
would take twenty years to pay all Il
claims. II Is also ayerred here that N
lCOntiRned Oa Second RAEsl