The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-02-02
Representatives of Powers Have Submitted Plan to Their Gov- ernments Which May Adjust Differences.
While 1t Has Not Received the Formal Endorsement of Mln- ister Bowen It is Believed He Will Not Object.

Washington, February i.-Proposltions involving a compromise of the allied powers contention for preferential treatment in the settlement of their claims against Venezuela have been sifb-
 mitted to the governments of Great Brit
 ain, Germany and Italy by their repre-
 sentatives at Washington and while no
 answers have been received as yet, there
 is reason for belief that the allies will
 see a way to accept the latest proposi-
 tion.
 This compromise has been suggested | by one of the representatives of the allies
 here. and while it has not formally re- | ceived the endorsement of Minister Bow l en, 1t Is felt that he will not enter seri-
 ous objection to its adoption, provided
 the United States and the other claim
 ant nations outside the alliance can be | convinced that their own interest in Ven i ezuela will not be substantially injured by yielding to plan which seems to of fer a solution of the present serious hitch in the Washington negotiations.
 The details of the proposition now un- der consideration by the three allied na-
 
 way, 1t is understood to be a modifca- ton of the allies contention that they be recognized as Venezuela's preferred claimants in the payment of the indem- nifty. The plan suggested provides that for a short period, perhaps six months or a year. Great Britain. Germany and Itally shall receive exclusively 30 per cent of the customs receipts of the ports of Porto Cabello and La Guayre and that at the end of this period the exact length
 of which is yet open to decision. all the
 claimant nations be placed on the same
 footing and at the expiration of that time
 the 90 per cent of the receipts of these
 ports be divided among all the claimant
 nations in ratio passed on the amount of
 each nations claims.
 VIII Raise the Blockade. The plan is regarded as a compromise I which will enable the allies to withdraw
 their ships from Venezuelan waters with
 out serious loss of prestige. Whether
 the claimant nations outside the tripartite | agreement will assent to this scheme is
 not yet known. The British ambassador
 called by appointment on Secretary Hay | this afternoon at o'clock and it is be- h. | der consideration The British ambassa- | dor wishing to acquaint himself with the | exact attitude of the United States re- | garding Lord Lansdowne's contention for | preferential treatment for the allies. | France has 1t In her power to continue | the present deadlock in the Washington negotiations. For while the other un- allied claimants have outstanding against | Venezuela certain unadjusted claims all | PIa ma In | ward state.
 France contends that so far from assist
 ing her in the collection of her Venezue-
 Ian claims, the blockade, if anything has | hampered here in that It closed all the | Venezuelan ports to commerce and has prevented for the time being the collec- l tion of the 13 per cent of the receipts | pledged her by treaty.
 | Representatives Hopeful. l It is the hope of the representatives | of the allies at Washington in case their
 governments accept in principal the kind | of compromise suggested, they will not
 Insist that the period for preferential pay
 ments be made so long as to prevent its | acceptance by the other claimant na- | tions.
 MT. Bowen has been assured that the representatives of the allies here will | give him final answer at the earliest possible moment.
 | Meanwhile exchanges are still pending between the allies and their representa- | tives In effort to agree on a plan of
 settlement that will be acceptable at oncc | to Venezuela and to the octagonaf allf-
 ance of France, Belgium Spain, Den | mark, Holland Norway, Sweden and the | United States.
 By his evident desire to take up the ne- | gotiations at Washington with all the | sDeed consistent with nritdanca opH voo1 form, Baron SPeck von sternberg has | gained from the Washington officials the same favor that made him a popular
 member of the diplomatic corps here many years ago.
 Germany Will Not Delay. l The fact that he asked permission to | waive the custc mary presentation cefe- monies which ordinarily last for several days has convinced MT. Bowen. and incl | dentally the Washington government, | that Germany wants the Venezuelan | question settled with all possible dis- patch. The Italian ambassador, Signor Mayor des Planiches. paid an informal | call on Mir. Bowen this afternoon to as- sure the latter that the representatives i of the allies still were communicating | with their governments and hoped to
 rresent an answer in a few days Signor l Mayor des Planiches afterwa rd called at
 the British embassy.
 | Minister Bowen returned the call of l Baron Sternberg at O clock this after l noon and remained for some time dfs-
 cussing the situation. The German minis | ter also received a call from the British ] ambassador today The German minister | has cabled at length to Berlin stating his | personal views on the situation. It is not
 believed that he is ayerse to an accepr- ence in principle of Mr. Bowens propo-