Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-29
BELGIUM TO COLLECT DEBT
Lsopold's Government Offers to Administer
Venezuelan Customs for Powers
DIPLOMATS URGE ALLIES TO ACCEPT
Cable Suggestion for Prompt Acaui-
cscence in Mr.. BOwen's Latest
Proposition so that locks
May De Raised Mt Once.

PARIS. Jan. est was learned today
that the Belgian charge d'affaires at Cara
cas- has Informed his diplomatic and official
colleagues that Belgium will undertake the
administration of the Venezuelan customs
in behalf Of the allies and other foreign
claimants, thus relieving the United States
and other interested parties from the re-
sponsibility Of administering the settle
ment.
Belgian agents will be appointed to. re-
ceive the customs and distribute the re-
spective portions to the different claimants.
France Expects Equal Treatment.
The attitude Of the French gov
eminent relative to the claims
against Venezuela is that the French
claims are in the nature OF first lien on
the customs receipts, and that under the
circumstances are not to be subordinaSed to
other claims.
This view has been communicated to the
representative OF the allies, to Mr..
Bowen and to the state department at
Washington. For this reason, the officials
here express confidence that no arrange
ments will be made to give priority to the
claims of the allies over those of France
and other powers similarly situated. '
1t is said that 40 per cent of the Gus
toms receipts will probably be sufficient to
satisfy France, the allies and all the other
claimants.
No News in Washington.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 2s.-No advices have
yet arrived here from London, Berlin or
lions, but the representatives Of the allies
are hopeful that the final answer of the
powers, authorizing the raising OF the
blockade, may reach here within the next
twenty-four hours. 1t will be cnmmuni-
Gated at once to Mr.. Bowen and the
preliminary protocol will then be signed,
Impressed with the fair spirit in which
Mr.. Bowen has conducted the negotiations
for Venezuela, an appeal has come to the
minister from ole OF the largest German
firms in existence asking that he protect
German interests so far as he may be able
in his representations to the powers. He
is especially urged to call to the attention
of the powers the serious harm that will
accrue to foreign trade in Venezuela and
throughout South America IL the allies
insist on any proposition involving the
overturning OF the currency system of
Venezuela.
This appeal, with Mr.. Bowen's endorse
ment, has been communicated to the
powers. Mr. Bowen is thus placed in the
peculiar attitude of asking protection from
the powers for the interests of their own
citizens.
Ministers Urge Acceptance.
signor Mayor des Planches, the italian
ambassador, called on Mr.. Bowen this
afternoon and informed him that a joint
cablegram had been sent to the lowers
urging the prompt acceptance of the last
proposition.
Late this afternoon Mr.. Bowen gave out
a brief statement of the diplomatic. debt
Of Venezuela and methods for its future
adjustment IA :s.r
In round numbers the debt amounted on
December 81, 1901. to something oveEs $14,-
900, 900 and, consisted of claims which, had
previously been adjusted. Since that date
no payments had been made on the debt.
Mr.. Bowen's plan provides that 13 per
cent iqts1he customs receipts of all Venez-
uelan ports sshaK go oward the payment
Of this debt. This arrangement will not
interfere with the plan for the settlement
of the unadjudicated claims. For the pay
ment OF the latter 80 per cent Of the Gus
toms duties of the two ports or Puerto
Cabello and La Guayra have been offered,
These ports were selected because they
would be the last to fall into the hands
of the Tevolutionists.
Assurance has been given the French
government tbat it shall receive fair treat
ment, and that no previous arrangements
1t has made with Venezuela will be inter.
fered with. The French charge d'affaires
M. Pierre de Margerie, was authorized to.
day to conduct negotiations with Mr.. Bower
whenever he desired to take up the French
claims. .. r .a.. +. hipc@ &
No instructions nave been received al
yet by the Belgian minister, Baron Mon
cheur of the claims of his government, -bui
these are expected shortly.
Await RepIy from Venezuela.
BERLIN, Jan. 2s.-The allies are await,
ing Venezuela's reply to their conditiona
acceptance Of the guaranty. Venezuela ap
pears to have asked the allies to permit al
pending claims against 1t to participate il
their payment out of customs receipts Sc
apart for that purpose. This the allie
have declined to agree to and it is upol
this point, particularly, that Venezuela
answer is awaited. ~ So
blockade Not over Yet.
LONDON, Jan. est was said at tn,
Foreign office today that there was n,
change in the Venezuelan blockade situa
ton. The reports that 1t win be raiseC