Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-02-21
PROTOCOLS ALL SIGNED
Britain, Germany and Italy in Line for
Peace With Venezuela.
THE BLOCKADE WILL BE RAISED.
Midnight When the Signing Took Place at
British Em5assy-Within Twenty-four Hours
the Commanders Of the Blockading Fleet
Along the Venezuelan Coast VIII Receive
Orders to Withdraw Warshios.

Washington, d. c. (SpeciaD.-Her-
bet w. Bowen. Venczuela's represen-
tatiye in the peace negotiations at
Washington. has signed with each oil
the allies representatives here pro-
tocol providing for the immediate rais-
the reference OF the question OF prefer
entail treatment OF the claims OF the
allies against Venezuela to The Hague
arbitration tribunal The final iormali-
ties occurred at the British Embassy.
At 1870 o'clock p. III. Herbert Dering.
first secretary OF the British Embassy,
announced tina tthe British protocol
had Just been signed. and that sigma
ture OF the Italian and German proto-
coils would follow i'll the order named.
The Italian protocol was signed at
1850 and the German protocol at 1910
oc clock. the presence OF Baron Stern
berg at the White House musical de-
laying final close to the negotiations
until after midnight.
The British protocol was i'll English;
the Italian in Italian and German, and
the German in German and English.
Mr.. Bowen signed in duplicate for
Venezuela: Sir Michael Herbert for
Great Britain: Signor Mayor des
Plances for Italy, and Baron Spec Won
Sternberg for Germany. Immediately
on the signing OF the last protocol ca
blcs were dispatched to London, Berlin
and Rome announcing the fact.
BY the provisions OF these prelimin-
AIRY protocols, which have required
more than three weeks OF constant ne
gotiations. Venezuela makes two dis
tinct gains-the immediate raising OF a
blockade from which she has been SUI
fering for some weeks. and the return
OF all her vessels. war and merchant,
which have been captured by the allied
fleet.
Great Britain. Germany and Italy re-
ccive advance payments OF 6 $500 each.
Great Britain receiving her payment
on the signature OF the protocol. and
Germany ard Italy within 80 and 90
days from date. Germany. in addition,
will receive FIVE monthly payments un-
til the full amount paid her III advance
aggregates $4,000.
As guaranty for the satisfaction OF
their claims. Mr.. Bowen pledges the
allies share with the other creditor
nations in 30 per cent. OF the customs
receipts of the two ports OF Laguayra
and Porto Cabello. This percentage
will be set aside beginning March 1
and retained in the Venezuelan treas
ury until The Hague tribunal shall de-
eide whether it shall be distributed
without preference among the claimant
nations or whether the allied powers OF
Great Britain, Germany and Italy shall
receive preferential payments.
Italy, by her protocol, gains immedi-
ate payment OF her first-class claims,
without further adjudication, as soon
as the joint commission at Caracas shall
have passed on the remainder OF her
claims. In round numbers the adjudi-
Gated Italian claims amount to $780, 1000,
from which will be subtracted the ST.
500 to be paid her 90 days from the
signature OF her first protocol The
| Italian Ambassador also has secured
for his government the insertion in
his protocol OF an agreement that Ven
ezuela will insert in her treaty with
Italy the iavored-nation clause possess
cd by the other nations.