New-York tribune., 1903-02-02
COMPROMISE PROPOSED.
Qualification of 4Hes' Claim To BE
Preferred Creditors.

Washington Feb. Propositions involving a
compromise of the contention of the allied pow
ers for preferential treatment in the settlemeht
of their claims against Venezuela nave oeel
submitted TO the governments of Great Brltalh
Germany and Italy by their representatives.
here and while answers have been recelNeu
as vet there is ason to believe that the allies
will Sc, a way 70 accept the latest suggestion
This compromise emanates from one of the rep
resontatfyes of the allies here, and though MIN
lister Bowen has not formally indorsed H. IL Is
felt that ne will not enter serious Objection 20
its adoption provided the United States ana 'he
other claimant nations outside OF the dliidiiO
can be convinced that their own interests III
Venezuela will not be substantially injured oy
accepting the plan
Tho details of the new proposition are not OBJ
tainabIe but in a general way II Is uhdeiS'oou
N he modification of the allies contention
that they be recognized as Venezuelas pre-
fe~red claimants in the payment of the lndem-
nitv The plan suggested provides that for
sbort nerfod perhaps six months or year
c.roat Britain Germany and Italy shall receive
exclusively 80 per cent of the customs receipts
of the ports of Porto Cabello and La Guayra'
and that at the end of this period the exact
length of which is yet open to decision All
the claimant nations ne placed on the same
footing and at the expiration Of that time the
80 per cent of the receipts Of these two ports
be divided among all the claimant nations In
ratio based on the amount Of each nation
claim.
The plan is regarded as a compromise "hlch
will enable the allies to withdraw their ships
50, Venezuelan waters without a serious loss
of prestige
whether the claimant nations outside the trl-
,artite agreement will assent to this scheme is
c+ vat known. The British Ambassador called
bv appointrnent on Secretary Hay this attef-
moon and it is believed that some such plan as
+bfs was under consideration. the British Am
bassador wishing to acqualnt hllhselL "i'N 'i'
exact attitude of the United states IeSdIuils
Lord Lansdowne's contention for preterehtlai
treatment for the allies
France has it in her power to continue t'e
present deadlock in the Washington HeEo.'"
-. Eor uhie the other nOn-ailied claim
ants have outstanding against NelleZuela
tain unadtusted claims. all OF lle fIe''cH oI'i'
a re in a forward state .-.,
France contends that so far from aSSiStllls aSs
her in the collection Of her Nthezue&h G''lIllts. -
+he bIockade IL anything. has hampered her IN
49, ~ has cosed all the Venezuelan ports 30
connme-ce and has prevented 1or the uthe
being the collection OF the me-. 10 per cent Oh ''e
racainfs pledged her by treaty
- p ,be hone OF the representatives. of the
~ Vrasbington that in case their govern
ments accept in princlPie tne Knd Oh toi.iptoo TO
;od | for preferential payments be made so
80 "a to prevent its acceptance by the other
claimant nations -. -, -
ortotiyes OF the allies here will give him final
snsv.er at the earliest possible moment Mean
tina exchanges here are still In progress De-
go, ,he allied governments and their respect
i've embassies here in the effort to agree on a
plan OF settlement that will be acceptable at
once to Venezuela and France. Belgium. Spain,
Denmark. Holland. Norway. Sweden and the
United States