The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1903-02-13

Protocols Are to BE Signed.
Washington, Feb. S.-President
Roosevelt has declined the invitation
OF the allied powers to arbitrate the
question as to whether they shall re-
ceive preferential treatment in the set
tlement OF their claims against Vene-
zuela. over the other creditor nations.
The matter therefore now will be re-
ferred to The Hague. This will result
in the immediate raising of the block.
ade. The administration, it is stated
in official quarters, was unwilling to
approve the effort of the British gov
eminent to eliminate Minister Bowen
from the negotiations, and moreover,
the president could not have accepted
the invitation of the allies, even if he
had been so disposed, without the con-
sent of the other negotiator, Minister
Bowen, and this the allies did not OBJ
tain or request in their note to the
president.
Immediately upon receipt of Secre-
tary Hays note announcing the pres
idents declination, the British ambas-
sador sent a communication to Mr..
Bowen stating that he was suffering
from an attack of the grip and would
be obliged if Mr.. Bowen would call on
him.
The Venezuelan representative inn
mediately went to the British embas-
sy, where the British ambassador ex-
planned that he had been too ill to cali
for several days and announced the ar
rival of his protocol, which he was pre-
pared to submit to Mr.. Bowen for sig
nature. Later the German minister,
Baron Sternberg, called on Mr.. Bowen
and announced the arrival of his pro-
tOcOl.
The Agreements.
1t was developed that two protocols
are to be signed by Mr.. Bowen with
the Italian ambassador, Signor Hayor
des Planches, two with the British
ambassador and two with the German
minister, Baron Speck Won Sternberg.
The first protocol in each case will
provide for the reference of the allies
contention for preferential treatment
to The Hague and the raising of the
blockade simultaneously with the sign
ing of this convention. 1t is doubtful
whether the initial protocol between
Minister Bowen and the three allies
will contain the same conditions.
though all the negotiators are work
ing to this end.
In these protocols the conditions
precedent to the raising of the block
ade will be clearly stated, namely, that
30 per cent of the customs receipts of
the ports of La Guayra and Puerto
CabellO are to be set aside by Vene-
zuela for the satisfaction of her cred
itors and that the question as to
whether the allied powers shall re-
ceive preferential treatment or, as
Great Britain terms it, separate"
treatment shall be referred to The
Hague. These protocols also will pro
vide that Zenezuela shall pay down
to each OF the three allied powers
6 $500 as partial cash payment. The
difference between these protocols, il
is said, will concern certain details
the nature of which is not yet known
even to Mr.. Bowen.
Having arranged for the signature
of these first protocols, the negotiatOrs
will take up the second protocols
which are to cover the manner of aid
Indicating the claims of the various
creditor powers and the means fol
, the administration of the customs re
ceipts. AS previously announced, the
claims of each claimant power are t
; be settled by commission, to consist
. in each instance of a representative o.
: creditor government and a Venez
y uelan, and, in case of failure to agree
A the king of Spain will appoint an arbi
. traitor. The plan agreed on for the
: collection of the payments provides
that the Caracas government shall b'
a entrusted with the administration 0
the receipts unless 80 days are allowed
: to elapse without the prompt paymen
to any one nation of it's share, in whicl
event the Belgian government is EN-
>. powered to appoint agents to TAX
r charge of the custom houses and ad
minister the payments until the claim
- of all the nations are satisfied.
6 In administration and diplomat
circles the reference to The Hague i
o regarded as a victory for Ministe
n, Bowen, as Venezuela thereby is er
abled to recover from the distressin
p effect of the blockade before startin
:, upon the payment of her debts. TIL
N cumbersome machinery of The Hague
" it is expected, will de.ay matters col
siderably, and the payment of credito
rotfopc oop not houin mill tho i'm DOr