The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-01-28
WILL BLOCKADE
Be RAISED TO-DAY?
This Is the Expectation at
Caracas.--First Meeting
of Negotiators.

CARACAS, Jan. ,27.-The news ca
pIed yesterday that the blockade would
De called or tomorrow is confirmed by
the semi official press here, which
says: There are well founded reasons
To-Day Tor the belief that the blockade
VIII be suspended between today and
tomorrow night"
Only foreigners are suffering from
the effects of the blockade. The Ven-
ezuelans themselves, accustomed to ma
i've products, are not undergoing hard
SHIPS, except because of the shortage
OF salt. The supply Of corn is suffi-
clent to furnish native bread for a
year.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Jan. 27.-The
earnest hope is expressed tonight by
officials having to do with Venezuelan
matters that the European allies will
come to an agreement promptly and
call on the blockade that is still in
force. Mr.. Bowen confidently hopes
the powers may agree to his PROPOSE
lions and that a joint answer to this
erect may come to Washington to-
morrow.
The first joint conference of the ne
gotiators occurred during the afternoon
by appointment at Mr.. Bowen's apart
ments. The ranking diplomat, Signor
Mayor des Planchos, the Italian am
bassador, made the representations in
French to Mr.. Bowen. The question
under discussion was matter of the
merest detail, the ENJOYS wishing to
know whether the monthly payment to
the allies should betsin proportion to
the amount of the claims or whether
Great Britain, Germany and Italy
would receive the same amounts each
month until the Indemnity was paid.
Mr.. Bowen said he. was quite willing
to leave this to the powers themselves
to settle and that sany arrangement
they might make would be satisfactory
to, Venezuela. Another detail which
has not yet been cleared UP involves
the question of preferential treatment
of the allied powers as against France,
Denmark, Holland, Norway and Swe--
den, Belgium, Spain, and the United
States in the payment of indemnity.
The point was made by Venezuela's
representative that were the dispute
referred to The Hague tribunal all the
powers would besrequired to stand on
an equality, and furthermore, that as
this question did not form a part of
the allies condition precedent to the
fair that it should be presented as es-
sential now that Venezuela had COM
piled with the original proposition and
offered a sufficient guarantee. This
answer was communicated to the for
5eign offices at London, Berlin and Rome
tonight, and 1t is hoped that favorable
answers will be received tomorrow.
The force of Mr.. Bowen'sa contention
has appealed to the allies representa-
stives here. and there is reason to be-
rlieve Great Britain, Germany and Italy
will yield on this last objection and
sign the protocol for the raising of the
blockade. The blockade once lifted,
the representatives of the powers hav-
ing claims against Venezuela will treat
with Mr.. Bowen directly for the settle
ment Of their indemnity. go
LONDON, Jan. 27.-zThe following
statement was authorized by the Ger
man embassy here:aSl
There is not the slightest truth in
the reports of friction or misunder-1
standing between England and Ger
many in regard to Venezuela. Both
governments continued to act in per-
feet harmony and will simultaneously
withdraw the blockade at the earliest
possible moment" eE