New-York tribune., 1903-02-03
NEW DEMAND Il SURPRISE
4ctiOn of tile ALHes Causes Disap-
pOintment an Washington.
TRY TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBUNE I

Washington, Feb. 2-Ignoring all previous
suggestions of compromise. the representatives
of the three allies to-day presented TO Minister
Bowen the formal demand Of their governments
that two-thrds of the 30 per cent offered by him
for the payment of all foreign claims against
Venezuela be reserved for the settlement Of the
claims OF the allies, and the remaining 10 per
cent be assigned to the other claimant nations
This offer absolutely and finally rejected
by Mr.. Bowen, who first denied it verbally and
then. after a conference with Secretary Hay,
dispatched a note TO the three representatives
of the allies, setting forth his reasons for reject
ing the demand and asking that the question OF
preferential treatment be referred to The Hague
tribunal and the blockade at once raised The
refusal Of Minister Bowen. together with his
note, must be transmitted to the three al
lied governments. and matters will remain quiet
until their reply is received
WOULD PERPETUATE ALLIANCE.
The proposition of the allies to take for them
the ports of La Guayra and Porto CabeIIo. and
leave for the other eight claimant nations the
remaining third, opens once more the whole
question of preferential treatment. 1t opens
also a new and yet wider vista. Transmitted
by Lord Lansdowne to Sir Michael Herbert and
presented by him to Minister Bowen, this re-
II rkabIe demand carries with it the perpetual
Britain. Germany and Italy for at least six
years; that is. for the time it will take to
satisfy the claims of the allies. All this time
the alliance will hold good, and by consenttng
to this proposition Venezuea would seal the
bonds of the foes united against her. This Is
believed on all sides to be the most significant
announcement yet made in the entire negoti-
ations. and is reported to have furnished M'H-
lister Bowen after his conference with Secretary
nI,ia TO he
A second pertinent reason which is believed
10 have Influenced the attitude of Minister
Bowen is the assertion of the doctrine that Ven
ezuela must recognize that preferred treatment
can be obtained by blockades and bombard-
ments The assent to a proposition for prefer
entail treatment under the present circum-
stances Minister Bowen is reported to have
held. would he to incorporate into the law OF
nations doctrine absolutely offensive 70 mod
ern civilization. To establish an alliance. viewed
with suspicion on this side Of the water. for a
period of years. and to perpetuate the gospel of
collection of debts by blockades and lombard
ments to the exclusion of the debts of nations
adhcrin-- TO pacific measures. is a step suicidal
to Venezuelan interests. and on these two
grounds it is announced on the highest authority
that Minister Bowen. after careful consuIta-
ton with Secretary Hay. declined fatty 10 ac-
cede to the demands of the allies as voiced by
Lord Lansdowns and presented by Sir Michael
Herbert.
ROWEN'S COUNTER PROPOSAL
Having fatty rejected this demand Minister
Bowen is reported to have made counter
proposition TO refer the question of preferential
treatment TO The Hague, and to sign conven-
ton embodying the other points already agreed
upon simultaneously with the agreement to
refer to The Hague the present point of differ
ence Minister Bowen demanded that the block
ade. the purpose Of which has been accom-
pi5h be raised at once.
Such. in brief is the current impression OF
the character of the negotiations carried on
TO-DAY AT the conference this afternoon Sir
Michael Herbert SignOr Mayor des Planches.
Baron Won Sternburg and Count Won Quadt were
present It began about . o'clock and lasted
less than an hour. As he left the conferences
Raron Won Sternburg admitted that propositions
and counter propositions had been presented
b;1. expressed the opinion that further delay
was not undesirable. The work of the repre-
senatfves of the allies for the rest of the night
was the transmission of the result Of the confer
ence to their home governments.
The turn to-day's egotiations have taken
has caused no little disappointment In this CITY,
It had been generally expected that compro-
mise providing a sufficient preferential 10 sat
isfy the pride &C the allies. without in the least
affecting the rights of the other claimant ma
tfons was To be looked for It is known that
Minister Bowen offered TO grant 20 the allies
preferential treatment for a period OF thirty
davs as a recognition of their point OF honor
that having taken n position on this issue,
tbev could not recede. That this preferential
would ne extended To cover period OF three
or even six months was believed to be the prob
able COMPROMISE. In to-day's conference IL IS
reported that not word of reference was
made TO this earlier offer of Minister Bowen.
and n is said that the entire meeting was con-
summed in a discussion of the new communica-
zion and in the expression by Minister Bowen
of the reasons for his definite rejection of the
demands
The whole field of the preferential issue Is re-
onened again. and the other claimant nations.
notably France and the United states, as well
as Spain. Holland. Belgium. Denmark and Nor
way and Sweden are brought into the matter
AGAIN Minister Bowen has promised 20 In
form all these nations I'm case of insistence OF
the allies on preferential treatment That the
hIockadine powers have graciously allowed 10
ner cent of the customs receipts TO be set aside
for eight nations. while they seize 20 per cent.
ia not believed to be an idea calculated 20 secure
The Endorsement of the -bockadng nations.
Whether Minister Bowen viii proceed at once
TWO TOURS To FLORIDA