The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-02-08
Minister Bowen VIII Not Consent to
One Member of The Hague
Court Acting as Arbiter.
TROUBLE FEARED At CARACAS
LIFE AND PROPERTY MAY BE EN-
DANGERED BY LACK OF LIGHT.
American Charge Asked to Use HE In
huence TO Secure Coal for the
Manufacture of Gas.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7-Disciosures of
secret alliance between Germany and Italy
constituted the most important develop
ment in the Venezuelan situation tonight.
This fact has been made known to the Brit
ish ambassador, and Ii has put all of the
negotiators more closely on their guard
in the drafting of the protocols which they
hope to submit to Minister Bowen during
the next few days. The German-Itaiian al
lance was old news TO Mr.. Bowen. the fact
having leaked out in Caracas before he left
there. Generally speaking. the alliance is
intended to secure TO Italy the same treat
ment in the allies settlement with vene-
zuela as that received by Germany and
Great Britain.
Mr.. Bowen has made it plain both to the
British ambassador and to the German min
lister, Baron Sreck Won Sternberg, that he
cannot affix his signature to any protocols
they may present to him which are not sub
stantially of the same character as that to
be submitted by the Italian ambassador.
Signor Mayor Des Planches. All three Of
the first set of protocols to be signed. which
will contain the conditions precedent TO the
raising of the blockade and the provisions
for referring the question of preferential
treatment to The Hague for decision, have
been received at the Italian, British and
German embassies. Their contents are not
known to Mr.. Bowen nor have the allies
representatives been acquainted as yet with
the details of each others conventions.
Several important conferences have oc-
| Cured throughout the day at the British
embassy in an effort to reach an agree
ment upon the protocols.
Regarding reference to The Hague Mr.
Bowen has informed the allies that he viii
not consent that one man be selected from
the personnel of The Hague tribunal to sit
as arbiter in the question Of preferential
treatment He wishes that this court shall
consist of three and preferably Of five mem
bers.
Several more or less sensational stories
have been in circulation during the last
| few days which have caused considerable
| annoyance to the British ambassador and
to the other negotiators regarding the note
| Mr. Bowen addressed to the former on last
Monday proposing that the question OF
preferential treatment go to The Hague.
| That these reports may be corrected the
negotiators are desirous that the facts be
stated On Tuesday after the sending of
this note to the British ambassador the
latter called on Mr.. Bowen and asked that
he withdraw the entire note on the ground
that it was not diplomatic in character Mr..
Bowen was compelled to refuse to grant his
request. The ambassador then asked that
the sentence beginning, ION this side OF
| the water we want peace and not alli-
ances." be withdrawn. Again Mr.. Bowen
regretted that he could not grant the am
| bassador's request. Finally the ambassa-
| dor represented that the latter part Of the
sentence regarding the continuance Of the
alliance of Great Britain with Germany
and Italy would cause him embarrassment
| when submitted to the Italian ambassador
and the German minister. Mr.. Bowen re-
piled that he would be only too glad to do
anything that would further the negotia-
tions, and at once struck out the objec-
| tionable clause, which read as follows:
"And it will occasion great surprise and
regret when II becomes known that Great
Britain has even proposed continuing her
present alliance with Germany and Italy
one moment longer than she must
| With this one change the note was finally
transmitted by the British ambassador to
the Italian and German embassies.