Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1903-02-12
REFUSED
The President Will Not Arbitrate
In the Venezuelan Dispute.
NATTER WILL co TO The HAGUE,
The Protocols to BE signed-The References
to The Hague Regarded ~ Victory
for Minister Bowen by the
Administration.

Washington, Feb. 7.-President
Roosevelt has declined the invitation
of the allied powers to arbitrate the
question as to whether they shall
receive preferential treatment In the
settlement of their claims against
Venezuela over the other creditor
nations. He reached this decision
shortly before four o'clock yesterday
afternoon and instructed Secretary
Hay to dispatch note to the Brit
ish embassy at once, advising the
British ambassador to that effect.
The matter therefore now will be
referred to The Hague tribunal. This
will result in the immediate raising
Of the blockade. The administration,
it is stated in an official quarter, was
unwilling to approve the effort OF
the British government to eliminate
Minister Bowen from the negotia-
lions and, moreover, the president
could not have accepted the invita-
ton of the allies, even had he been
so disposed, without the consent OF
the other negotiator, Minister
Bowen, and this the allies did not
obtain or request in their note OF
invitation to the president.
Immediately on receipt OF Secre'
tary Hays note announcing the
presidents declination, the British
ambassador addressed a communfca-
ton to Minister Bowen, stating that
he was suffering from an attack OF
grippe and would be obliged If Mr..
Bowen would call on him. The
Venezuelan envoy went at once to the
embassy, where the British ambassa-
dor explained that he had been too
i'll to call for several days and an
nounced the arrival of his protocol,
which he was prepared to submit to
Mr.. Bowen for signature. Later the
German minister, Baron Sternberg,
called on Mr.. Bowen and announced
the arrival of his protocol. To-day's
programme will include preliminary
preparations for the signing of the
protocols. 1t developed last night
that two protocols are to be signed
by Mr.. Bowen, with the italian am
bassador, Signor Mayor des Planches,
two with the British ambassador and
two with the German minister, Baron
Speck Won Sternberg. The first pro-
tocol in each case will provide for
the reference of the allies conten-
ton for preferential treatment to
The Hague and the raising OF the
blockade simultaneously with the
signing of this convention. 1t is
doubtful whether the initial proto-
coils between Minister Bowen and the
three allies will contain the same
conditions, though all the negotia-
tors are working to this end. In
these protocols the conditions prece-
dent to the raising of the blockade
will be clearly stated, namely, that
30 per cent. of the customs receipts
Of the ports of La Guaira and Porto
Cabello are to be set aside by Vene-
zuela for the satisfaction OF her
creditors, and that the question as to
whether the allied powers shall re-
ceive preferential treatment or as
Great Britain terms 1t, separate
treatment In the settlement. shall be
rrTerred TO Tne nague. rnese pro-
tocols also will provide that Venezue-
Ia shall pay down to each OF the
three allied powers R5,500 as an IN
itial cash payment. The differences
between these protocols, 1t is said,
will concern certain details, the ma
ture Of which is not yet known, even
to Mr.. Bowen.
Having arranged for the signature
Of these first protocols, the negotia-
tors will take up the second proto-
coils. which are to cover the manner
Of adiudicating the claims of the va
rious creditor powers and the means
for the administration Of the Gus
toms receipts.
In administration and diplomatic
circles the reference TO The Hague
Il regard ed as victory for Minister
Bowen. as Venezuela thereby is en-
abled TO recover from the Distress
inc eject of the blockade before
starting upon the payment of her
aebts. The cumbersome machinery
Of The Hague, II is expected, win de-
lav matters considerably and the
psyment Of creditor nations cannot
begin until the important question OF
priority payment for the allies Is
decided.