Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1903-02-07
ULTINATUM 70 THE POWERS
IN REGARD TO THEIR CLAIMS
AGAINST VENEZUELA.
copies of the Note Sent to Their DIFF
ferent Governments England,
italy and Germany Want 20 Per
Cent Share of Customs Receipts
Other Countries 10.

Other Countries 10.
Washington, FEB. 3.-HerberJ w.
Bowen. Nene2uelas representative al
Washington Tor settlement OF the
claims against that country, has seHt
through the British Ambassador here
what amounts practically TO an Elti-
L'utum TO the allied powers OF Great
b. .Laln, Germany and Italy regaroJng
their insistence for preferential. LIeat'
nenl IA LlIe se.Llement ot tnel
claims against NeneAueIa. 1nls nCLC
was caDleu at once 10 london, copies
OF IL being transmitted 10 the IiaEan
and German embassies Tor traLsL.ls-
sion TO Rome ana Berlin. 1t 10 In re-
ply TO the proposition submitted al
q joint conference Oh the negotiations
recently by the British ambassador
urging that the allied powers be al
lowed two thirds OF so per cent OF the
customs receipts of the ports OF La
Guayra and Puerto Cabello. and
that the United States and the 9th
or claimant nations, France, Belgium,
Holland, Denmark, Spain, and Norway
and Sweden, content themselves with
the remaining one third of this per
centage; that is, 10 per cent of the
receipts of these two ports.
In the note received by the British
ambassador from Mr.. Bowen the lat
ter refuses point blank the PROPOSE.
ton for a 20 and 10 per cent division,
on the ground that to recognize the
principle it embodies would be abso-
lutely offensive to modern civilization.
In view of the fact that the negoti-
ators are agreed on all save the ques-
ton of preferential treatment, the am
bassador is informed that Venezuela
has decided to submit that question
to The Hague arbitration tribunal.
The acceptance of this proposition,
Venezuela contends, carries with it
raising of the blockade, the general
understanding being that the block
ade would end when the negotiators
at Washington had reached an agree
ment
1t is understood that in refusing
this last proposition submitted by the
British ambassador ON behalf of the
allies Mr.. Bowen takes the ground
that he can not accept in principle
the contention that blockades and
bombardments of forts and the con-
sequent killing of helpless men, wo-
men and children entitle any power
or alliance of powers to preferential
treatment at the hands of a civilized
nation. It Is claimed that should the
peace powers and the blockading pow
ers agree to such principle they
would incorporate In the law of ma
tons doctrine in conflict with the
tenets of all modern ethics
Moreover, Venezuela, it is stated,
regards the preferential demand of
the powers as Objectionable because
1t would enable the continuance of
the triple alliance of Great Britain,
Germany and Italy for a period Of six
years or more, and in accepting it
Venezuela would be encouraging and
abetting the maintenance of hostile
alliances against herself. The Brit
ish ambassador is informed in the
note that the Americans, north and
south, want peace and not alliance.
Venezuela has taken special excep'
ton to the British government in
itiating this last proposition by which
Great Britain can hold fast to Ger
many and Italy in their alliance
against Venezuela until the last cent
of the debt is paid. The prediction
Is made in her response that surprise
and regret of the keenest sort will be
felt throughout the Americans when
it is known that Great Britain has
even proposed continuing her pres.
ent alliance with Germany and italy
one moment longer than is necessary
particularly in view of her previous
representations to the effect that she
was anxious to end the Venezuelan
dispute and call off the alliance at the
earliest possible time.
In suggesting that the question OF
preferential payment be referred tc
The Hague. it is understood that Mr.
Bowen does so in view of the fact
taht the question is the only one
that remains in dispute.
Dowie Goes East.