New-York tribune., 1903-01-31
VENEZUELAN DEADLOCK.
THE SITU4TION CRAZE.
Reply of the 4lHes Not Yet Trans
mHted to BO7CGn.
Try TELEGRAPH TO THE TnIBUSE.I ]

Washington Jan. 30-No reply had reached
Minister Bowen from the allies at midnight to-
night but 1t was learned on good authority that
a reply had reached at least one of the embas-
sizes of the allies. The inference drawn from the
failure to transmit this reply to Minister Bowen
is that the reply is unfavorable, and that the
representatives of the allies have communicated
with their governments, informing them that
serious results are likely to follow the rejection
of Minister Bowens offer. The exact nature of
these serious consequences may be gathered
from the contents of a letter sent by Minister
Bowen to the representatives of the allies yes
terday. This note contained frank announce
ment that, in the event of the allies insisting
on preferential treatment for their claims, he
would be obliged to communicate this demand
to all the other creditor nations In other
words he would inform the representatives of
France. Spain, Norway and Sweden, Belgium.
Holland. and also the United States, that Great
Britain, Germany and Italy were demanding
that Venezuela discriminate against their claims
and in favor of those of the nations which have
resorted to warlike measures.
The result of such a notification is apparent.
The other nations would at once make rep
resentations protesting against such dscrimfna-
ton. and denying the right of the allies to take
such A step. Moreover, in further demonstra-'
tion of his intention TO take such action, Min
lister Bowen visited all the representatives of
the creditor nations his arrival in this city,
and informed them that he intended to give their
claims equal treatment. The method of pro-
cedure Mr.. Bowen planned before coming to
this country is now perfectly apparent in the
light of the present developments. His first
step was to make proposals to the allies for the
settlement of their claims and offer sufficient
guarantee that Venezuela would carry out her
contract. In this method failed, Mt
Bowen's second plan was to call in the other
creditor nations and present to them the desire
of Venezuela to pay all her creditors. and her
inability to this, owing to the pressure of the
allies for preferential treatment The last step
was TO let the matter go to The Hague, where
all claims against Venezuela would share
equally.
The working out of his plan begins TO be ap-
parent. First he presented his offer. 1t re-
ceived and indorsed by the diplomatic repre-
sentatives of the allies. who transmitted it to
their governments with the recommendation that
it be accepted. Then the demand
from the home governments for preferential
treatment This was met yesterday by Minister
Bowens announcement that he would be obliged
to call in the other creditor nations. This
fallowed by note from all the ambassadors TO
their governments outlining the dangers of in
sstence on the preferential demand. 1t de-
clared the highest authority Tonight that
the warning message of the representatives of
the allies did not reach their home governments
before the message received here to-day
sent and that the delay in transmitting the mes
sage is due to the fact that the representatives
of the allies desire to have their governments
fully understand the situation and the dangers
likely to attend a renewal of pressure on Nen-
ezuela for preferential treatment.
That Mr. Bowen has been forced from his first
line TO his second, does not necessarily mean
that he will fail On the contrary, he still con-
fidently believes that his mission will be sue
cessful without reference to The Hague on
the other hand, factors have appeared in
the field to-day in the shape of other creditor
nations whose protest against any discrimina-
ton is likely to be heard soon as 1t becomes
apparent that the allies intend to press it
The most discouraging feature is the con-
tinuance of the blockade. 1t was to raise this
that Mr. Bowen worked hard on his arrival.
but as yet he has received only the most vague
assurances that il would be raised when his
offer was satisfactory. The fact that after his
offer had beer accepted as satisfactory by the
three representatives of the allies here they
should be obliged to return with fresh demands
is the most serious feature of the whole affair
in the opinion of those close to the negotiations
into the matter, which has been suggested to-
of the Monroe Doctrine but precisely for the
ter-to protest against discrimination against
the claims of their citizens and in favor of the
subjects of Great Britain, Germany and Italy.