Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-07
MATTER WILL ACCORDINGLY co TO HAGUE
Protocols for Submission to Tribunal Will
Be Taken Up Today.
BOWEN RnEs SIR MICHAEL HERBERT
Claims Powers Seek to Continue Alliance
Against Castro BY Trick
AMBASSADOR REsENTS THIS lMPUTATloN
Cables London Expressing His Dis
pleasure and Suggesting Negotia-
tions with American Envoy
he Broken on.

WASHINGTON, Feb 6.--President Roose-
volt has declined the invitation Of the
allied powers to arbitrate the question OF
preferential treatment in the settlement
of their claims against Venezuela Secre-
tary Hay has been instructed to advise
the British embassy at once to that effect.
The matter therefore will now be referred
TO The Hague tribunal, which will result
in the immediate raising OF the blockade.
The administration, II Is stated In an
offioial quarter, was unwilling to approve
the effort Of the British government to
eliminate Mr.. Bowen from the negotiations,
end moreover the president could not have
accepted the invitation of the allies, even
aad he been so disposed, without the con-
sent Of the other negotlator, Mr.. Bowen.
Consider Protocols Today.
Tomorrow prelimlnaries will be consid
cred with reference to the signing Of the
protocol referring matters to The Hague.
Immediately on receipt OF Secretary
Hays note announcing the decision the
British ambassador addressed a communica-
tion to Mr.. Bowen saying he was suffering
from an attack Of grip and would be
obliged II Mr.. Bowen would call on him.
The Venezuelan envoy went at once to the
embassy. where the British ambassador ex>
plained that he had been too i'll to call for
several days and announced the arrival OF
his protocol, which he was prepared to
submit to Mr. Bowen for signature. Later
the German minister, Baron Won Sternberg.
called on Mr.. Bowen and announced the
arrival OF his protocol
It developed tonight that two protocols
are to be signed by Mr. Bowen with the
Italian ambassador. signor Mayor Des
Planches, two with the British ambassador
uyifh he inf he
FIRST 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 signing Of the convention.
1. is doubtful whether the initial pro-
tocols between Mr.. Bowen and the three
allies will contain the same conditions.
though all the negotiators are working to
that end.
In these protocols the conditions preoe-
dent to the raising OF the blockade will
be clearly stated. namely. that 80 per
cent OF the customs receipts Of the ports
Of La Guayra and Puerto Cabello are to be
set aside by Venezuela for the satisfaction
CT it's creditors and that the question as
20 whether the allied powers shall receive
preferential treatment, or, as Great Britain
terms IT, separate" treatment, in the
settlement. shall be referred to The Hague.
Insist on some Cash.
They will also provide that Venezuela
shall pay down to each OF the three allied
powers e5,500 as an initial cash payment.
The differences between the protocols, It
is said, will concern certain details, the
nature Of which is not known even to Mr..
Bowen.
The German protocol will be submitted
90 him tomorrow by the German minister.
4
embassy and there see the protocol drawn
by Lord Lansdowne The Italian ambas-
sador, Sig. Mayor Des Planohes, will bring
his protocol to Mr. Bowen tomorrow for
consideration. Having arranged for the
signature OF these first protocols, the ne
Rotiators will take up the second protocols,
which are to cover the manner of adjudi-
eating the claims Of the various creditor
powers and the means for the administra-
tion of the customs receipts. The claims
OF each claimant power are to be settled
by a commission TO consist in each in
stance Of a representative OF creditor
government and Venezuelan and in case
OF failure to agree. the king OF Spain
will appoint an arbiter.
1t is admitted tonight that some days
may pass before either of the protocols
can be signed, owing to the minor differ
ences. but negotiations are expected to
move more swiftly than in the past.
In administration and diplomatic circles
the reference to The Hagt,e is regarded as
victory for Mr.. Bowen. as Venezuels
thereby is enabled 10 recover from the dis
tressing effect OF the blockade before
starting upon the payment Of Its debts. The
cumbersome machinery of The Hague Il
is said, will delay matters considerably
and the payment of creditor nations cannot
priority payment for the allies is decided
The tribunal also will decide the vita
question. to South American states, as tC
whether blockades and bombardments en-.
title powers TO preferential treatment Al
the hands Of their debtor. Coming from
The Hague IL will establish a precedent
while decision on the point from Presi
den. Roosevelt would have carried no sucl
weight as decisive OF a point OF .nterna
tional law.
An adverse finding by the president
therefore, could not have prevented tn,
allied powers from repeating their block
ade next month II they desired, whereas, al
adverse verdict from The Hague woulC
add new canon to the law of nations an,
stop such a course of practice completely
Il was to gain this principle. which natu
rally vitally effects not only the future o
Venezuela, but OF the other republics o
this continent that Mr. Bowen stood ou
for arbitration by The Hague tribunal in
stead OF by the president.
Bowen Rifles SIR Michael.
In confirmation Of the dispatch yesterday
20 the effect that Mr.. Bowen and the Brit
ish ambassador. at the interview recently
had heated argument, Il was stated tha
II the character OF the cablegrams that tn,
British ambassador has been sending to hi
government regarding the attitude CT Mr.
Bowen should become public. the oOuntr
would be furnished with sensations
diplomatic incidents.
II Is the opinion OF the Venezuelan nego
tiAtors. other than the British ambas assador
that the latter is directly responsible 10
the breaking on OF negotiations with Mr
Bowen.
Il is the opinion in ofheial circles her