Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1903-02-06
I, ULTIMATIJM ISSUED
MINISTER soWEN REFUSES Al.
LIED POWERS PREFERENTIAL
TREATMENT. -: h. LIZ

"oe0nS VeJSCSO sUS" Vt0pO0sSsoss
on the Ground That its Principles
s. Would Be Offensive: "a. Civilization.
Washington. Feb. 3.-Herbert w.
Bowen, Venezuela's representative in
the negotiations at Washington for the
settlement Of the claims against that
country, has sent through the British
ambassador here what amounts prac-
tically to an uftimatum to the allied
powers of Great Britain. Germany and
Italy regarding their insistence for
preferential treatment in the settle
ment Of their claims against Vene-
zuela. This note, which the British
ambassador received shortly before
8 o'clock p. m, was cabled at once to
London, copies Of it being transmitted
to the Italian and German embassies
for transmission to Rome and Berlin.
It is in reply to the proposition, SUBJ
mitted at joint conference of the
negotiators during the afternoon, by
the British ambassador. that the allied
powers be allowed two-thirds of 30
per cent of the customs receipts of the
ports Of La Guayra and Puerto Ca
bello, and that the United States and
the other claimant nations, France,
Belgium, Holland, Denmark, Spain
and Norway and Sweden, content
themselves with the remaining one
third Of this percentage, that is, 10 per
cent of the receipts of these two ports.
III the note received by the British
ambassador from Mr., Bowen, the lat
ter refuses point blank the proposition
for 20 and IL Fer cent division on
the ground that to recognize the prin.
ciple it embodies would be absolutely
offensive to modern civilization. In
view OF the fact that the negotiators
are agreed on all save the question of
preferential treatment, the ambassador
is informed that Venezuela has de-
cided to submit that question to The
Hague arbitration tribunal. The &C.
ceptance of this proposition, Vene.
zuela contends, carries with It a
Raising of the Blockade,
the general understanding being that
the blockade would end when the ne
gotiators at Washington had reached
an agreement.
It 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 cannot accept in principle the
contention that blockades and bonn
bardment OF forts, and the consequent
killing of helpless men, women and
children, entities any power or alliance
of powers to preferential treatment at
the hands of a civilized nation. At is
claimed that should the peace powers
and the blockading powers agree to
such a principle, they would incor-
porate in the law of nations a doctrine
in conflict with the tenets Of all mod
ern day ethics.
Moreover, Venezuela, it is stated, re-
CARDS the preferential demand Of the
powers as Objectionable because it
would enable the continuance OF the
triple alliance of Great Britain, Ger
many and Italy for 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 Americans north and south want
peace and not alliances.
Venezuela has taken special excep-
ton to the action OF the British gov
eminent in initiating this last propO-
sition by which Great Britain can hold
fast to Germany and Italy in their al
lance against Venezuela until the last
cent of the claim is paid. The pre-
&c in hof
surprise and regret of the keenest
sort will be felt throughout the Amer
icas when it is known that Great Brit
ain has even proposed continuing her
present alliance with Germany and
Italy one moment longer than is neces-
sary, particularly in view of her pre-
vious 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 claims be referred to The
Hague, it is understood that Mr.
Bowen does so in view Of the fact that
the question is the only one which re-
mains in dispute. The allies are ad-
vised that Venezuela is DESTROYS that
all the negOtiators shall stand by what
has been already agreed on. The
British ambassador declined to make
public the text of the note addressed
to him. as it is in reality a note to the
allied powers, but it became known
that it was along the lines here set
forth and concluded with an appeal
for justice to The Hague tribunal re-
garding the contention of the allies
for preferential payment, and an as
sertion that such action carried with
it the raising of the blockade.
Whether the allies will accept a.