Arizona republican., 1903-02-04
THE POWERS HEsITATING.
No Reply to MT Bowen's Proposal Yet
 Received.


 Washington, February 3.-There are as yet no adVices from the allied gov crnments respecting the nature of the next proposal they will submit to Mi, Bowen. VenezueIa's representative, for Q settlement of their claims, but there is good authority tonight for the state ment that the note of Mir Bowen ad- dressed to the British ambassador last night will result in an adjustment oi the trouble.
 At the British embassy today tho most important conference that the representatives of the allies have held among themselves took place. As q result of this conference the foreign offices in London. Berlin and Rome are in possession of suggestions which, if adopted, will mean the success of the Washington negotiations and the rais- ing of the blockade. The allied powers have been again requested by their representatives to consent to a priority of the payment of their claims for d limited period only, and an equality Cf all claimant nations thereafter. MT. Bowen has stated that he is willing that the allies receive preferential treatment for one month. if at the end Of that time all the claimant nations be placed on an equal basis as to time and proportionate payments.
 It is the conviction or one Of these ncgotiators at least that this proposi- tiCn of Mir. Bowen's is fair It involves 2 compromise of the powers original request for six years preferential treat ment. but will enable them to retain a part at least of their prestige The feeling is growing that a persistence m their present position can result only in a loss of prestige for the allies and bad feeling against them not only in Venezu la but elsewhere throughout the Americas.
 As a result of these considerations i-
 was agreed at the conference at the British embassy that note should be addressed to the three governments of Great Britain. Germany and Italy. set ting forth the exact attitude of the United States with reference 10 the powers preferential demand and the state Of public feeling here regarding ft. and urging prompt acceptance of preferential payments for a period or from one to six. months. An answer is hoped for from one if not. all the allies within the next twenty-four hours.
 | The question of referring the ques- ! ton of preferential treatment to The Hague for settlement, as suggested by 1 MT. Bowen in his note to the British 1 ambassador, came up at the conference. and it was evident at once that the ! negotiators were one in their opposition to calling in The Hague tribunal ex- cept as a last resort.
 The British ambassador in call on ! Mir. Bowen during the forenoon asked l him regarding his proposition 10 rerer ! the matter to The Hague. and it de-
 veloped that Mir Bowen was no less
 anxious than the allies representatives
 that the whole controversy be settled l here and now. All these facts have ! been cabled in full to the three powers
 Confidence that a settlement will be ] forthcoming at Washington in a short
 time is based to a considerabl extent
 on the activity of Baron von Sternburg
 who has given every evidence that h sincerely wants the dispute adjusted without prolonging the blockade and 1 unnecessarily coercing Venezuela Tht ! fact that the minister is known to be it i close touch with the emperor is ground
 for the belief that he may be able through his representative to rouse tho London foreign office to a realization of the acuteness of the situation here
 and the desirability of prompt actior of q character that will settle the trouble.
 The citizens of Mexico have claims against Venezuela and that government
 hes asked to be put on an equal footing
 with the other nations when the tim,
 comes for settling up. Notice of Mex