The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1903-01-30
ALLIES STOP
NEGOTIATIONS
BY DEMAND
Powers Want Preferen-
tial Treatment. From
Venezuela.
Situation Reassumes It's Seri-
Gus and Perplexing
Aspect.
National Lawmakers Indicate a Dis
position to Handle Question With
Greater Vigor and Teach Ger
many a Timely Lesson.

Special Dispatch to The Call.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29.-Tense if not
critical, expresses the situation tonight
IN relation to Venezuela. Between the al
lies insisting on preferential rights in pay
ment of their claims and other creditous
clamoring for an equal share with the
blockading powers, the outlook is not
clear.
Throughout the day nothing occurred to
relieve the hitch in negotiations which the
allies introduced suddenly last night by
insisting on preference because they had
done the work of blockading Mr.. Bowen
told them he could not agree to this and
to his answer no reply has been received.
Diplomatic representatives of the other
creditor nations named are very restless
as a result of the action of the allies, who
they think are endeavoring to crowd other
powers out of a fair chance of settlement.
According to one theory Bowen has two
courses open to him. He may in his re-
Spouse to the claimant nations other than
the allies state that Venezuela yields to
an overpowering force and that If she
cannot meet their claims they must reck-
on with the allies themselves. The other
course is for Mr.. Bowen to declare that
she cannot come to a reasonable under
standing with the allies and therefore the
case LhuSl 81 W LllO A1O6uC - lDQlldl 1Ol
adjustment.
A high official of the State Department
stated to-day that the attitude of the al
lied powers is inexplcable. A significant
demonstration Of the spirit of Congress
was given at the meeting of the Senate
Committee Military Affairs to-day.
The question of abandoning the transport
system was up. A well known Senator
remarked:
1T strikes me that this is a poor time
to be talking about selling our trans
ports"
A 100000 appropriation for army i'm
provements which had been stricken from
the bill was put back, thus leaving the
bill recommended by Secretary Root.
The coast artillery was much helped by
the authorization of appropria tons pro-
viding for many gunners, skilled gunners
and machinists TO work big coast guns.
The discussion was general and earn
est and the conclusion, as stated by
member of the committee. was that the
United States should make it plain that
the honor and dignity of the country
would be maintained and that Germany
would not be allowed to bluff this Gov
eminent by any attitude she might as
sumo.
1t is learned that on the second day
after his arrival here Minister Bowen in
formed the French diplomatic representa-
tive in Washington that the French
claims would be treated on the same ba-
sis as claims of the allies, and would be
taken up after the blockade was raised.
Relying on this assurance, the Govern
ment has remained inactive, but it is
stated that should the allied powers be
granted preferential treatment France
would take steps at once to protect her
Venezuelan interests and would make re-
ports on the subject to the Foreign Offices
at London, Berlin and Rome.