The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-02-04
BOWEN DECLINES
TO COMPROMISE
The Powers Submitted a
Counter Proposition.
ASKED FOR LIONS SHARE
Two Thirds Of Venezuelan Custom Receipts fol-
the Three Allied Powers, One Third
for Outside Claimants
Says Bowen fIatly,
(By the Associated Press.)

(By the Associated Press)
Washington. Feb. 2.-Herbert w. Bow
en-. VeneZuela's representative in the ne
gotiations at Washington for the settle
ment of the claims against this country,
has sent through the British Ambassador
here what practically amounts to an ulti-
matum to the allied powers of Great
Britain. Germany and Italy regarding
their insistence for preferential treatment
in the settlement o. their claims against
Venezuela. This note which the British
Ambassador received shortly before nine
o'clock tonight, was cabled at once to
London, copies of it being transmitted
to the Italian and German embassies for
transmission to Rome and Berlin. 1t is
in reply to the proposition submitted at
joint conference of the negOtiatorS this
afternoon by the British Ambassador
that the allied powers be allowed two
thirds of thirty per cent. of the customs
receipts of the port of La Guayra and
Porto Cabello and that the United
States and the other claimant nations,
France, Belgium, Holland, Denmark
Spain and Norway and Sweden content
themselves with the remaining one-third
of this percentage, that is, ten per cent.
of the receipts of these two ports.
In the note received by the British
Ambassador from Bowen tonight the lat
ter refuses point blank to accept the
proposition for twenty and ten per cent.
division on the ground that to recognize
the principle that it embodies would be
absolutely offensive to modern civiliza-
ton. In view of the fact that the negO-
tiators are agreed on all save the ques-
ton of preferential treatment the Am
bassador is informed that Venezuela has
decided to submit that question to The
Hague arbitration tribunal. A choice of
this proposition, Venezuela contends,
carries with it raising of the blockade,
the general understanding being that the
blockade would end when the negotia-
tors at Washington had reached an agree
ment.
1t is understood that in refusing this
last proposition submitted by the British
Ambassador on behalf of the allies Mr..
Bowen takes the ground that he cannot
ACCEPT in principle the contention that
blackades and bombardments eff forts,
and the consequent killing of helpless
men. women and children, entities any
power or alliance of powers to prefer
entail treatment at the hands of civil
ICED nation It is claimed that should the
peace powers and the blockade powers
agree to such principle they would in
corporate in the law of the nations
doctrine in conflict with the tenets of all
modern ethics. However, Venezuela, it
is stated, regards the preferential de-
mand of the powers as Objectionable be-
cause it would enable the continuance
of the triple alliance of Great Britain,
Germany and Italy for a period of six
years or more, and in accepting it Vene-
Zuela would be encouraging and abetting
the maintenance of hostile alliances
against herself. The British Ambassador
is informed in the note that Americans,
north and south, want peace and not al
liances.
Venezuela has taken special exception
to the action of the British Government
in initiating these last propositions by
which Great Britain can hold fast to
Germany and Italy in their alliance
against Venezuela until the last cent
of the claims is paid The prediction is
made in her response that surpri,e and
regret of the keenest kind will be felt
throughout the Americas when it is
known that Great Britain has even pro-
posed continuing her present alliance with
Germany and Italy one moment longer
than is necessary, particularly in view
of her previous representations to the ef-
feet that she was anxious to end the
Venezuelan dispute and call off the alli-
ance at the earliest possible time.
In suggesting the question of preferen-
tial treatment be referred to The Hague,
it is understood that Mr.. Bowen does so
in view of the fact that this question is
the only one which remains in dispute.
The allies are advised that Venezuela is
DESTROYS that all the negotiators shall
stand by what has been already agreed
on.
The British Ambassador declined TO-
night to make public the text of the note
addressed to him it is in reality
note to the allied powers. but it he
came known that it was along the lines
here set forth, and concluded with an
appeal for justice to The Hague tri-
bunal regarding the contention of the al
lies for preferential payment and an
assertion that his action carried with it
the raising of the blockade. Some signi-
ficance may attach to the note in view
of the fact that before dispatching it 10
the British Embassy Mr.. Bowen was iE
conference with Secretary Hay.
The position taken by Mr.. Bowen. it
is stated, has received the endorsement
of all the I'm allied claimant nations. IN
which number is included the United
States.