The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1903-02-07

ProtocoIs Presented by the Allies Last
Night for Venezuelan Enyoy's sigma
turs-These Refer the Matter to the
Peace Tribunal-BIoekade VIII be
Raised ns Soon ss They Arc Signed
Outcome Regarded as Victory for
Minister Bowen.
Washington, Feb. 6. - President
Roosevelt has declined the invitation of
the allied powers to arbitrate the ques-
tion as to whether they shall receive
preferential treatment in the settle
ment OF their claims against Venezuela
over the other creditor nations. He
reached this decision shortly before 4
o'clock this afternoon and instructed
Secretary Hay to dispatch a note to
the British embassy at once advising
the British ambassador to that effect.
The matter will therefore be referred
to The Hague tribunal. This will re-
suit in the immediate raising Of the
blockade. The administration, it is
stated in official quarters, was unwil-
ling to approve the effort of the British
government to eliminate Minister Bow
en- from the negotiations and moreover
the president could not have accepted
the invitation Of the allies even had he
been so disposed, without the consent
of the other negotiator, Minister
Bowen, and this the allies did not OBJ
tain or request in their note of invita-
ton to the president.
Tomorrow preliminaries with refer
ence to the signing of the protocol re-
ferring matters to The Hague for arbi-
tration will be considered.
Immediately on receipt OF Secretary
Hays note announcing the presidents
declination, the British ambassador ad
dressed communication to Minister
Bowen stating that he was suffering
from an attack of grip and would be
obliged If Mr.. Bowen would call on him.
The Venezuelan envoy went at once to
the embassy, where the British ambas-
sador explained that he had been too
ill to call and announced the arrival
Of his protocol, which he was prepared
to submit to Mr.. Bowen for signature.
Later the German minister, Baron
Sternburg, called on Mr.. Bowen and
announced the arrival of his protocol.
1t developed tonight that two proto-
coils are to be signed by Mr.. Bowen
with the italian ambassador, two with
the British ambassador, and two with
the German minister.
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 block
ade simultaneously with the signature
of this convention. 1t is doubtful
whether the initial protocols between
Minister Bowen and the three allies will
contain the same conditions, although
all the negotiators are working to this
end. In these protocols the conditions
precedent to the raising of the block de
will be clearly stated, namely, that 80
per cent. of the customs receipts of
the ports of La Guaira and Porto Ca
bello are to be set aside by Venezuela
for the satisfaction of her creditors, and
the question as to whether the allied
powers shall receive preferential treat
ment, or, as Great Britain terms it,
separate" treatment, in the settlement
shall be referred to The Hague. These
protocols also will provide that Vene-
zuela shall pay down to each of the
three allied powers S27. 500 as an initial
cash payment. The difference between
these protocols, it is said, will concern
certain details the nature Of which is
not yet known, even to Mr. Bowen.
The German protocol will be submitted
to him tomorrow by the German min
lister for consideration. Afterward Mr..
Bowen will go to the British embassy
in view of the illness of the British
ambassador, and there will see the pro-
tocol drawn up by Lord Lansdowne.
Having arranged for the signature of
these first protocols, the negotiators
will take up the second protocols, which
are to cover the manner of adjudicat-
ing the claims of the various creditor
powers and the means for the admins
tration of the customs receipts. As an
nounced yesterday, the claims Of each
claimant power are to be settled by a
commission, to consist in each instance
of a representative Of the creditor gov
ernment and Venezuelan, and In case
of a failure to agree the King Of Spain
will appoint the arbiter. The plan
agreed on for the collection of the pay
ments provides that the Caracas gov
ernment shall be entrusted with the
administration of the receipts. unless
thirty days are allowed to elapse with
out the promised payment to any one
nation of its share, in which event the
Belgian government is empowered to
appoint agents to take charge Of the
customs houses and administer the
payments until the claims of all the
nations are satisfied.
It was admitted tonight that some
days may yet pass before either of the
protocols can be signed owing to the
minor differences. but negotiations are
expected to move more swiftly than in
the past
In administration and diplomatic cir
cles the reference to The Hague is re-
garded as victory for Minister Bowen