Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1903-02-05
ALLIED POWERS MAY AGREE TO
TEMPORARY PRIORITY OF
| THEIR CLAIMS.
AN IMPORTANT CONFERENCE
British, German and italian Ministers
at Washington Discuss Venezuelan
Situation and Make Suggestions tc
Their Covernment5-.Quick Repiy
Exrectcd-Mexico Asks to Be Put
on an Equal With Other Nations.

on an Equal With Other Nations.
Washington Feb 4-There are as
yet no advices from the allied gov
ernments respecting the nature of the
next proposal they will submit to Mr..
Bowen, Venezuela's representative. for
settlement Of their claims, but there
Is good authority for the statement
that the, note Of Mr.. Bowen, addressed
to the British ambassador, Monday
night, will result in an adjustment Of
the trouble. At the British embassy
during the day the most important
conference that the representatives of
the allies have held among themselves
took place. AS result Of this con-
ference the foreign Offices in London.
Berlin and Rome are in possession of
suggestions which, II adopted, will
mean the success of the Washington
negotiations and the raising Of the
blockade. The A:lied powers have been
again requested by their representa-
tives to consent to priority Of payment
of their claims for limited period
! only, and equality of all claimant ma
tons thereafter. Mr.. Bowen has stated
that he is willing that the allies re-
ceive preferential treatment for one
month il at the end of that time all
the claimant nations be placed on an
equal basis as to time and proportion
| ate payments. 1t is the conviction of
| one of the negotiators, at least, that
this proposition of Mr.. Bowen is en-
| inently fair. 1t involves a compro-
v.,y ..f l< ,tvsr r.o1 rt
| for six years preferential treatment.
but will enable them to retain a part
at least of their prestige. The feeling
is growing that persistence in their
present position can result only in loss
of prestige for the allies and bad feel
ing against them not only in Vene
zuela but elsewhere throughout the
Americas. AS a result of these con
siderations. it was agreed at the con-
ference at the British embassy that
note should be addressed to the
three governments of Great Britain.
Germany and Italy, setting forth the
exact attitude of the United States
mand, the
State Of Public Feeling
here regarding it and urging prompt
acceptance of preferential payments
for a period of from one to six months.
An answer is hoped from one II not
all the allies within the next twenty
four hours. The question of referring
the one question Of preferential treat
ment to The Hague for settlement as
suggested by Mr.. Bowen in his note
to the British ambassador came up at
the conference, and it was evident at
once that the negOtiators were one
in their opposition to calling In The
Hague tribunal except as a last re-
sort The British ambassador. in a
call on Mr.. Bowen during the forenoon,
asked him regarding his proposition
to refer the matter to The Hague and
It developed that Mr. Bowen was no
less anxious than the allies repre-
sentatives that the whole controversy
be settled here and now All these
facts have been cabled in full to the
three powers. Confidence that set
tlement will be forthcoming at Wash
ingtOn in o short time is based to a
considerable extent on the activity Of
Baron Won Sternburg, who has given
every evidence that he sincerely wants
the matter adjusted without prolong-
ing the blockade.
| Citizens Of Mexico also have claims
against Venezuela, and that govern
ment has asked to be put on an equal
footing with the other nations when
the time comes for settling up. Notice
of Mexico's intention was cOmmuni-
Gated to Mr. Bowen during the day by
the Mexican ambassador at this cap.
ital, Senor Aspiroz. who Informed Mr..
Bowen that the claims of the citizens
of his country in all amounted to
fiS.000 sterling, or approximately
| $50 900.
Mexico adds another to the list of
nations who are lined up against the
proposition of the allied powers for
preferential treatment in the payment
OF the claims.