The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-02-03
BOWEN STANDS FIRM
SENDS AN ULTIMATUM TO THE
ALLIED POWERS.
WILL GIVE NO PREFERENCE.
COUNTER PROPOSITION OF THE
ALLIES is DECLINED.

Allied Powers - Venezuela Insists
That Preference, if Allowed at
All, Must be After The Hague
Tribunal Has Abjudged 1t Equita-
bIe-AIlies Want 20 Per Cent, Civ
ing Other Claimants 10 Per Cent.
Washington, Feb. 2.-Herbert w.
Bowen, Venezuela's representative in
the negotiations at Washington for a
settlement of the claims against that
country, has sent through the British
ambassador here what amounts prac-
tically to an ultimatum to the allied
Powers of Great Britain, Germany and
Italy regarding their insistence for
preferential treatment in the settle
ment of their claims against Venezuela.
This note, which the British ambas-
sador received shortly before 8 o'clock
tonight, was cabled at once to Lon
don, copies of it being transmitted to
the Italian and German embassies for
transmission to Rome and Berlin. 1t
is in reply to the proposition submit
ted at a joint conference of the negoti-
ators this afternoon by the British am
bassador that the allied Powers be al
lowed two-thirds of 80 per cent. of the
customs receipts of the port of La
Guayra and Puerto Cabello, and that
the United States and the other claim
ant nations, France, Belgium, Holland,
Denmark, Spain and Norway and Swe-
den content themselves with the re-
naming one-third of this percentage
that is, 10 per cent. of the receipts of
these two ports.
In the note received by the British
ambassador from Mr.. Bowen tonight,
the latter refuses point blank to ac-
cept the proposition for a 20 and 10
per cent. division, on the ground that
to recognize the principle it embodies
would be absolutely offensive to
modern civilization. In view of the
fact that the negotiators are agreed on
all save the question of preferential
treatment, the ambassador is inform
ed that Venezuela has decided to sub
init that question to The Hague Arbi-
tration Tribunal. Acceptance of this
proposition, Venezuela contends, car
ries with it raising of the blockade,
the general understanding being that
the blockade would end when the ne
gotiators at Washington had reached
an agreement.
Against the Tenets of Peace.
1t is understood that in refusing the
last proposition submitted by the Brit
ish ambassador on behalf of the allies
Mr.. Bowen takes the ground that he
cannot accept in principle the conten-
ton that blockades and bOmbardments
of forts, and the consequent killing of
helpless men, women and children,
entitle any Power or alliance of Pow
ers to preferential treatment at the
hands of a civilized nation. 1t is
claimed that should the peace Powers
II
such principle, they would incorpor-
ate in the law of nations a doctrine in
conflict with the tenets of all modern
ethics
Moreover, Venezuela, it is stated,
regards the preferential demand of
the Powers as Objectionable, because
1t would enable the continuance of the
triple alliance of Great Britain, Ger
many and Italy for a period of six
years or more, and in accepting it
Venezuela would be encouraging and
abetting the maintenance of hostile alli-
ances against herself. The British am
bassador is informed in the note that
AmeTAcand North and South, want
peace and not alliances.
Venezuela has taken special eXcep-
ton to the action of the British govern
ment in initiating this last proposition
by which Great Britain can hold fast
TO Germany and Italy in their alliance
against Venezuela until the last cent
of the claims is paid. The prediction
is made in her response that surprise
and regret of the keenest sort will be
felt throughout the Americas, when
it is known that Great Britain has
even proposed continuing her present
alliance with Germany and Italy one
moment longer than is necessary, par
ticularly in view of her previous rep
reservations to the effect that she was
70 f1a
and call off the alliance at the earliest
possible time.
In suggesting that the question of
preferential treatment be referred to
The Hague, it is understood that Mr.
Bowen does so in view of the fact that
this question is the only one which re-
mains in dispute. The allies are ad-
Vised that Venezuela is DESTROYS that
all the negotiators shall stand by what
has been already agreed on.
The British ambassador declined to-
night to make public the text of the
note addressed to him, as it is in reali-
" note to the allied Powers, but it
became known that it was along the
lines here set forth and concluded with
an appeal for justice to The Hague
tribunal regarding the contention of
the allies for preferential payment, ana
an assertion that such action carried
with it the raising of the blockade
Some significance may attach to the
note, in view of the fact that before
dispatching it to the British embassy
Mr.. Bowen was in conference with
Secretary Hay.
Whether the allies will accept as
final what Mr.. Bowen has had to say
or will assume a conciliatory attitude
and ask, as has been suggested both
by Mr.. Bowen and by the representa-
tives of the allies in this city, for pref
erential treatment for a limited period, |
no one in Washington feels competent
to predict The position taken by Mr..
Bowen, it is stated, has received the
Endorsement of all the unallied claim
ant nations, in which number is in
cluded the United States.
AT the joint conference this after
noon, which took place at O'Clock, be-
sides Mr.. Bowen, the italian and Brit
ish ambassadors and the German
minister. there was also present Count
A. Won Quadt, first secretary of the
German embassy. who until the arri-
val of Baron Speck Won Sternburg,
conducted with activity and Judgment