The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-02-06

tated by the note of Minister Bowen,
Venezuela's representative, addressed
to the British ambassador on Monday
last, refusing to accept the allies pro-
posal for a scheme of preferential pay
ments by which Great Britain, Germany
and Italy were to receive 20 per cent
and the remaining eight creditor ma
tions 10 per cent of the customs of La
Guaira and Porto Cabello, the allied
powers have instructed their represent.
ativ6s here to submit the question of
preferential treatment for settlement
to President Roosevelt, and in the
event that he declines to act as arbiter,
to take This and possibly the entire
Venezuelan question to The Hague for
settlement there by breaking off nego-
tiations with Mr.. Bowen.
All 10 o'clock tomorrow at the British
embassy there will be a conference of
the representatives here of the allies.
In view of the fact that the London
government is now taking the lead in
the negotiations the British ambassa-
dor will preside at this conference.
Will Sound Him First.
In the meantime he expects to have
an interview with the secretary of
state, whom he will sound as to the
probability of the presidents accept
ance of the allies request. If it is found
that President Roosevelt is not dis
posed to allow himself to be dragged
into the negotiations the instructions
of the allies are such as to permit them
to foregO the embarrassment of a re-
lection at the hands of Mr.. Roosevelt,
and instead of making known their
wishes to him, steps will be taken to
draw up a protocol with Mr.. Bowen for
a reference of the case to The Hague,
as suggested by him in his note of last
Monday.
The British ambassador was the first
of the representatives to receive in
structions to this effect, and the matter
was discussed at the MONDAY confer
erce between the three representatives
of the allies.
Negotiations With Bowen Aba ndoned.
Announcement of the decision of the
allies to abandon further negotiations
with Mr.. Bowen was not received with
surprise by the few officials of the
Washington government who have
been advised of it.
The Hague tribunal" said one of
fetal of the administration tonight
has all along been kept in sight as
port of safety in case the negotiations
here We're not productive of a final set
tlement. And as for the suggestion
that the president act as arbiter, that
has been favOrite idea of the allies
since the beginning of the trouble"
Whether President Roosevelt will ac-
cept this invitation of the allies is not
known. An official of the adminfstra-
ton expressed his surprise tonight that
the allies We're willing to submit the
question to the president in view of the
fact that their representatives within
the last few days have informed them
by cable that the president views with
disfavor the contention of the allies for
preferential treatment
Would Avoid The Hague.
There is the best authority for the
statement that neither Great Britain
nor Germany is desirous of submitting
its case to The Hague. The instruc-
ttons received by the British ambassa-
DOR are not quite clear as to the alter
native to be pursued in the event that
the president declines to act as arbiter
of the question of priority payments.
II Is not known whether the protocol
which will be drawn UP with Mr.. Bow
en-, VIII provide for a reference of the
entire case to The Hague or whether
lhe alhes are willing to stick by what
they have secured here and willing TO
have The Hague arbitrate the one
queSllOh OF preferential treatment. The
drafting of protocol will occupy some
time, but it is the UNDERSTANDING that
upon the commission of the matter
either to the president or The Hague
the blockade is to be raised at once.
Cash Payments Offered.
During a call of Count Ouadt tbo
first secretary of the German enbas-
sy, upon Mr.. Bowen this morning. the
latter stated to him his WILLINGNESS to
make to Germany and Italy a cash
payment of $27 1000 each This was
done because of Mr.. Bowen's action in
the early part of the negotiations in
conceding to Great Britain a similar,
amount for satisfaction of the alleged
indignities which the British govern
ment claimed its citizens have suffered
in Venezuela. This amount was nam
ed by the British ambassador
1t was intimated today that France
might now come forward and ask for
the same cash payment for herself as
that given the allies
Various intimations have leaked ont
here regarding certain details of the
plan proposed by Mr.. Bowen and al
ready accepted by the allies for the
settlement of their claims against Ven
ezuela after the vexed question of nrof-
erential treatment shall have been de-
cided.
After the Preferential Question.
The plan agreed upon is: After the
preferential question has been settled.