New-York tribune., 1903-01-31
4 TTT7'UDE or FRANCE.
Reasons for a Plea that 1her'
Shall Be No P,1ority of CLAIMS.

Paris Jan. 30.--The Council of Ministers to-
day was occupied chiefly with Foreign Minister
Delcasse's presentation of the state foreign
affairs 1t is assumed that the Venezuelan situa-
tion was included, but the official statement of
what occurred at the meeting mentions only
Morocco and Macedonia.
NJ. Delcasses views have been fully COM
municated to Ambassador Jusserand, who is ex-
pected to arrive in Washington tomorrow.
The position Of the French officials In regard
to the claims of the powers is one of dgnified
firmness, but there is suggestion of a threat
or of the possibility of serious difficulty.
The Foreign Office here received this morning
long official advices giving details of the re1ec-
ton by the allies of the proposal that France
and other countries receive equal treatment in
the Venezuelan settlement. The French off,
ciaIs had not doubted that equal treatment
would be recognized and this unexpected turn
of events has caused much surprise and con-
Germ. Fer the present it does not appear to be
the purpose of the French authorities to as
sumo an imperative position. but rather to set
forth what they regard as the manifest equities
of the French position, with the view to in
duce its further consideration and acceptance.
After a conference of some high officials it was
said that the French position is based on two
essential principles:
The first is that pacific settlement between
two sovereign nations is entitled at least to
equal treatment with war settlement II not,
a precedent would be established, the officials
saw which would be incentive to war. as
countries first adopting force in the collection
of claims would have superior rights to those
observing the usual pacific means Of settle
rent.
The view is strongly held here that the United
States. France and Belgium are in effect pacific
allies as they did not resort to force against
Venezuela It is insisted that the present
attitude of the allies tends not only to prejudice
the rights Of the pacific allies, but also estab-
fishes the dangerous principle that resort to
war IS preferable to efforts to maintain peace.
The second principle of the French position is
that the Franco-Venezuelan settlement is In
the form of treaty, which entities 1t to inter
national recognition. This formally exc
cuted prior to the adoption Of force by the allies
and while Venezuela retained full independence
in the exercise of her sovereign right TO make
treaty. Therefore, it is maintained that this
antedates rights arising from resort TO Iorce.
1t is not insisted, however that this prior treaty
settlement entities France to priority in the
division Of the customs receipts. as the orclais
hold that all the powers having claims should
receive equal treatment. 1t was at first sup
posed that Great Britain, Germany and Italy
favored this view, and that the opposition came
from the personal attitude of their representa-
tives, but the latest advices Indicate tne synPa.
thetic attitude of the British Ambassador at
Washington. Sir Michael Herbert; the German
Charge d'Affaires, Count Won Quadt and the
Italian Ambassador, Signor Mayor des Planches,
who are restricted by their instructions.
Full recognition is given to the evident fair
ness of Minister Bowen. The subject is receiv-
ing careful consideration, and there VIII PROB
ably be further negotiations toward the presen-
tation and acceptance of the foregoing prin-