The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-02-04
NO ANSWER FROM POWERS.
France May Join Issues With U. S.
against the allies.

Against the allies.
Washington, January 31.-It dev-
eloped today that the answers Of the
allied Powers to Minister Bowen's
latest proposition arrived here yester-
day, but were not Immediately prese :
ed to the minister. The answers
were to the effect that the allies could
not consent that the United States and
the other claimant nations receive the
same treatment as the blockading
Powers, and that they, therefore, re-
iected in to to Mr.. Bowen's final propo-
sition. Knowing the consequences that
were to follow the presentation of this
answer the representatives Of the allies
took upon themselves the responsibility
of Withholding the notes of their gov
ernments and of again cabling, urging
retraction of their preferential de-
mand. Exchanges are still in progress
between the Italian, British and Ger
man embassies, but there is no evil
dence that the allies intend yielding.
If they hold out their representatives
must present the joint refusal, and the
Washington negotiations will come to
a standstill.
Baron sternburg, Germany's new
envoy extraordinary and minister
plenipotentiary to the United States,
conferred today with Count Quadt,
who, as charge d'afaires, has thus far
conducted the Venezuelan negotia-
tions for Germany Afterward the
minister went by appointment to the
State department and presented his
letters of credentials to Secretary Hay
and afterwards to the President. From
the White House Baron Strenb burg
went to the British embassy. Baron
Sternburg in his calls at the State
department. and the British embassy
today found the outlook for relief
of the present deadlock exceedingly
gloomy, and he has cabled rs much to
his Government.
WHAT IS SAID IN CARACAS
Caracas, January 31-All the news
papers of Caracas have published
articles to the effect that the action of
the allies in imposing upon Venezuela
special preferential treatment in the
settlement of their own claims is onN
par with all their previous acts since
the beginning Of the present Difficult
ty. namely, unjust and unreasonable.
The correspondent of the Associated
Press approached the members of the
diplomatic corps here, asking for their
opinion on this phase Of the matter
Two declined to speak, but third
was willing to discuss the matter for
publication provided his name was not
used. He said:
sThe action Of Great Britain, Ger
many and Italy, in trying to impose
favored treatment for their claims, and
in demanding an immediate cash pay
ment arises from the fact that they
know their claims are not well found
ed. My colleague, Nh. Haggard, the
British minister, before his departure,
presented claims to the Venezuelan
Government on behalf of Great Britain
to the amount only of $1,000. The re-
mainder of Great Britain's claims
against Venezuela is not known.
What they may be is problematical. 1t
must be remembered that schooners
from the British island of Trinidad
have been assisting the Matos revolu
tionists, as well as smuggling, and
that these vessels have been rightfully
seized by Venezuela. Great Britain
was sure beforehand that no tribunal
would recognize certain of her claims
and, therefore, she wanted to force
immediate payment.
Germany for the same reason, does
not desire that the Disconto-G Ges-
selschaft loan scandal become known
to the financial world.
The Italians have no industrial
enterprises in Venezuela. Italians
here are mostly agricultural laborers
and peddiers; these undoubtedly have
suffered, but they claim SO for the
loss of chicken and 500 for the theft
of donkey. It can be seen why
Italy does not wish to have her claims
discussed by a tribunal and prefers
force to reason.
There was much excitement among
the foreigners here when it was report
ed that the allies proposed special
treatment to secure the payment OF
their claims. Americans, Frenchmen
and Spaniards met and protested
against the carrying out of such an
idea, and cable messages were address
ed to tie governments Of the United
States, France and Spain asking for
protection for their several rights,
and that the claims of the petitioners
be accorded treatment similar to that
given to British, German and Italian
claims.
THE VERY GERMANS DISGUST
ED.
Caracas, January, 3o-The captain
of the German cruiser Gazette, which
is anchored at Puerto Cabello, on the
occasion of the German Emperor's
birthday sent an invitation to the