The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1903-02-06
Propose Now to Leave Ques-
ton of Preferential Treat
ment to Roosevelt or
The Hague,
IRRITATED AT LAST REPLY
CONFERENCE At
BRITISH EMBASSY TO-DAY.

Announcement of the Decision of 1he
Allies so Abandon Further Negotia-
With surprise-Tho Hague Tribunal
Long Kept in sight as n Port of Safety.
Washington, Feb. 5.-Irritated by the
note of Minister Bowen, Venezuela's
representative, addressed to the British
ambassador on Monday last, refusing to
accept the allies proposal for scheme
OF preferential payments by which
Great Britain, Germany and Italy were
to receive twenty per cent and the re-
naming eight creditor nations ten per
cent. of the customs receipts of La
Guatra and Porto Cabello, the allied
powers have instructed their represent
atlVes here to submit the question Of
preferential treatment for settlement to
President Roosevelt, and, in the event
That he declines to act as arbitrator, to
take this and possible the entire Vene-
zuelan controversy to The Hague for
settlement, thereby breaking off negoti-
ations with Mr.. Bowen.
At 10 o'clock tomorrow at the Brit
ish embassy there will be a conference
of the representatives Of the allies. In
view of the fact that the London gov
ernment is now taking the lead in the
negotiations, the British ambassador
will preside at this conference. In the
meantime he expects to have an inter-
view with the secretary Of state, whom
he will sound as to the probability Of
the presidents acceptance of the allies
request. If it Is found that President
Roosevelt Is not disposed to allow him.
self to be dragged into the negotiations
the instructions of the allies are such
| as to permit them to forego the embar-
| rassment of q rejection at the hands of
Mr.. Roosevelt, and, instead of making
known their wishes to him, steps will
be taken to draw up a protocol with Mr..
Bowen for d reference of the case to
The Hague, as suggested by him in his
note of last Monday. The British am
bassador was the first of the represent
atives to receive instructions to this ef-
feet, and the matter was discussed at
the MONDAY conference between the
! three representatives Of the allies.
Announcement Of the decision of the
allies to abandon further negotiations
with Mr.. Bowen has not been received
with surprise by the few officials Of the
i Washington government who have been
advised of 1t. "The Hague tribunal"
said an official of the administration to-
night has long been kept in sight as
port of safety in case the negotiations
here were not productive Of final set
tlenent And as for the suggestion
that the president act as arbitrator,
that has been favorite idea of the
allies since the beginning Of the trou-
S!e,'
Whether President Roosevelt will ac-
cept the invitation of the allies is not
known. An official Of the administra-
ton expressed his surprise tonight
that the allies would be willing to sub
nit this question to the president in
view Of the fact that their representa-
tives within the last few days have in
formed them by cable that the presi-
dent views with disfavor the conten-
tion of the allies for preferential treat
ment.
There is the best authority for the
statement that neither Great Britain
nor Germany is desirous of submitting
its case to The Hague.
| The instructions received by the
British ambassador are not quite clear
as to the alternative to be pursued In
the event that the president declines to
act as arbitrator Of the question Of pri
ority payments. 1t Is not known wheth-
er the protocol, which will then be
drawn up with Mr. Bowen, will provide
for a reference of the entire case to
The Hague or whether the allies are
willing to stick by what they have Sc
cured here and Will consent to have The
Hague arbitrate the one question of
preferential treatment. The drafting
of a protocol bill, it Is expected, will oc-
cupy some time, but 1t is the under
standing that upon the submission of
the matter either to the president or
The Hague the blockade Is to be raised
at once.
1t developed to-day that during call
of Count Quadt. the first secretary of
the German embassy. upon Mr.. Bowen
this morning the latter stated to him
his willingness to make to Germany and
Italy a cash payment of $4,000 each.
This was done because Of Mr.. Bowen's
action in the early part of the negotia-
tions in conceding to Great Britain
J a similar amount for satisfaction Of the
| alleged indignities which the British
| government claimed its citizens have
| suffered in Venezuela. This amount
was named by the British ambassador.
! 1t was intimated to-day that France
might now come forward and ask for
the same cash payment for herself as
given the allies.
!