New-York tribune., 1903-02-05
CONCESSION TO ALLIES.
OFFER M4DE BY BOWEN.
Preferential Treatment for Three
Nontks-No Settlement an Sight.
TBr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE. ]


Washington. Feb. "A concession of two ad
ditional months OF preferential treatment made
by Minister Bowen 10 Baron Won Sternburs was
the sole development in the Venezuelan affair
to-day The apparent hitch in the negotiations
Sill continues and the prospects Of early set
flen.cnt are exceedingly gloomy. An answer to
Minister Bcvens proposal TO the allies at the
time of his rejection of their demand on Mon
day night is still awaited. and there are indi-
cations that il may arrive tomorrow. But
--as this viii bc definite answer does not
srpear likely After starting out most auspi-
cio,lelv the affair has developed complications
which threaten to cause long delays if they do
Tot finally result in carrying the dispute to The
Hague tribunal. The. concession made by Mill
ister Bowen to-day is effort further to gratify
Tho desire If the allies 10 preserve their prestige.
That three great powers should back down
after demanding preferential treatment from a
small country like Venezuela was declared to
he TOO serious a blow TO their national pride
Accordingly Nr. Bowen consented on Monday
night IN a counter proposition. to recognize the
,,~inriple of preferential treatment, and grant
the allies one month Of such treatment He has
nov increased this offer to three months
rba+ this second offer is not susceptible or any
large increase is apparent from the fact that
Minister Bowen has consistently assured 'he
rerregor5atives Of the other claimant nations
,5a+ there should he no discrimination against
-,,efr claims It is understood that France has
sr-eadv eignihed her consent to a limited prefer
e-7tfzl such as Minister Bowen has offered, but
srv large increase in this time would lneFi'aoly
dr5-- do71nson Venezuela the wrath Of the other
--zi+orz Minister Bowen would then escape
-f,e Sc1lla Of the allies only to fall into the
,-17arvbdis Of the other creditors OF Eenezuela'
and would escape the pressure exerted by three
,,.4i-ors only 10 meet that of eight or nine
oaIv inducement he has ever offered to the
allies
The Concession secured by Baron Won Stern
hLre vas Immediately transmitted by him TO the
British and Italian ambassadors. and was the
occasion Of a conference at the British Enoassy
- noon. That Baron Won Sternburg, at this
fine urged the anba ssadors TO urge their gov
ernrnents TO accept Minister Bowen's conlPro-
mise or some compromise in this line is the
current belief here. The opposition of the Ger
nay, representative TO reference TO The Hague
* Generally known and Paron Won Stern
lq,rs Is credited with using all possible means
70 secure 2 settlement Of the affair in this CITY,
The British attitude the contrary, Is ne-
15aved 10 incline toward The Hague mus
Minister Bowen's two propositions-one to refer
-t.. matter Of preferential 10 The Hague, ana
the other to grant three months preferental
,res s+roen+-sre the only things now under con-
sdeTa tcn.
Earlier in the day Baron sternburs re-
ceiyed 2 dispatch from Berlin, the contents OF
which have not been divulged. His conference
with Nr Bowen. however, did not concern an
s-e1-er - the definite propositions. and 1t is
believed that his dispatch referred to minor
details Certainly no answer has been trans
r7irred n Minister Bowen and intimations from
the German Embassy convey the idea that
none is expected there before tomorrow
caH of Sir Michael Herbert on Secretary Hay
and later visit of the Secretary TO the White
HOUSE are interpreted as indicating that the
British Ambassador is following the example
Of The German representative and keeping this
country Informed Of the position of his gov
ernmeRt.
The opinion noted in The Tribune this morn
ing that reference TO The Hague would be
approved by this country still continues
Moreover. the assumption that Great Britain
f7.-nrs reference 10 The Hague strengthens the
belief that this viii happen. As the hope Of
sr@e6v settlement decreases the possibilities of
reference 10 The Hague correspondingly in
crease. hut Yet the matter has not reached
The stage where this step is necessary.