Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1903-02-05
ANOTHER PROPOSITION.
Allies Representatives Propose q
Way to Straighten the Venezue-
Ian Debt matter.
MoM.slocKADIMs POWERS MUST AGREE.
The Plan Gives the Allies a Certain
Per Cent of the Customs Receipts
for q Specified Time, After Which
All Claimants Will Be Placed ON
Same Footing.

Washington, Feb. 2.-Propositlons
involving a compromise of the allied
powers contention for preferential
treatment in the settlement of their
claims against Venezuela have been
submitted to the governments OF
Great Britain, Germany and Italy by
their representatives at Washington,
and while no have been re-
ceived as yet, there is reason for the
belief that the allies will see a way
to accept the latest proposition. This
compromise has been suggested by
one of the allies here, and while it
has not formally received the indorse-
ment of Minister Bowen, it is felt
that he will not enter serious objec-
ton to it's adoption, provided that
the United States and the other claim
ant nations outside the alliance cam
be convinced that their own interests
in Venezuela will not be substantial
ly injured by yielding to a plan which
seems to offer a solution of the pres
emit serious hitch in the Washington
negotiations. The details of the prop
csition now under consideration by
the three allied nations are not OBJ
tainable, but in a general way it is
understood to be a modification OF
the allies contention that they be
recognized as Venezuela's preferred
claimants in the payment Of the in
demnity.
The plan suggested provides that
for a short period, perhaps six
months or a year, Great Britain, Ger
many and Italy shall receive exclu-
sively 80 per cent of the customs re-
ceipts of the ports of Porto Cabello
and Laguayra, and that at the end
of this period, the exact length Of
which is yet open to discussion, all
the claimant nations be placed on the
same footing, and at the expiration
Of that time the 80 per cent. of the
receipts of these two ports be divided
among all the claimant nations in
ratio based on the amount of each
nations claim. The plan is regarded
as a compromise which will enable
the allies to withdraw their ships
from Venezuelan waters without a
serious loss of prestige.
Whether the claimant nations out
side the tripartite agreement will as.
sent TO this scheme is not yet known.
France has it in her power to con.
tinue the present deadlock in the
Washington negotiations. For while
the other unallied claimants have out
standing against Venezuela certain
unadjusted claims, all Of the French
claims + in a very forward state.
France contends that so far from
assisting her in the collection of her
Venezuelan claims, the blockade if
anything has hampered her, in that
it has closed all the Venezuelan ports
to and has prevented for
the time being the collection of the
Is per cent. of the receipts pledged
her by treaty.
1t is'the hope of the representatives
of the allies at Washington that in
case their governments accept in
principle the kind of compromise
suggested, they will not insist that
the period for preferential payments
be made so long as to prevent it's ac.
ceptance by the other claimant ma,
tions.