Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-26
A TAC|T AGREEMENT
Negotiations Regarding the
Venezuelan Dispute.
MR.. BOWEN HOPEFUL
BELIEVES PENDING CoNTRO-
vERsY WILL SOON BE SETTLED.
Conferences With Representatives Of
the Three Allied Powers, Who Have
Expedited Matters Considerably.

While no advance has been made as yet
since yesterday toward the settlement OF
the Venezuelan issue, 1t Is certain that no
ground has been lost by the pegotiators,
and from the few details of the exchanges
between the allies that leak out here 1t
would appear that they are considering
such small phases of the ultimate arrange
ment as to indicate that they have already
reached a tacit agreement upon the general
principles of the settlement. The impress
sion, which has gained currency, that an
American commission is to take charge Of
the Venezuelan custom houses in the inter-
est of the allied creditors has, 1t Is believed,
this much Of foundation. namely, the allies
themselves are to delegate commissioners
to take station in certain Venezuelan Gus
toms houses to audit the receipts and to
make sure that the allies receive the per-
centage of receipts which under the agree
ment will be set apart for them as indem-
nifty. 1t Is believed that one question under
discussion Is whether the entire receipts Of
certain customs houses shall be made over
to the allies whether a percentage of the
receipts of all the Venezuelan customs
houses shall be thus set apart. Simplicity
of administration and reduction Of the
in behalf of the first plan, while against 1t
there Is pointed out the danger of diver
sion by patriotic Venezuelans of all Of their
import business from the ports thus segre-
gated
1t is understood that the allies, while con-
siderably batting their demands for cash
payment from Venezuela, still adhere to the
principle of the ultimatum so far it in
wolves the payment of some money on
claims Of such character as not to admit of
question I1DOn the Of these ola
will depend Mr.. Bowen's success in remov-
Ing the blockade in all likelihood, for 1t Is
believed that he has contrived the means
to secure some cash from President Castro
realized upon forced loans, and some more
is likely to be derived from interests in this
country intensely concerned in the re-estab-
lishment of order in Venezuela and the
dissipation of the present international COM
plications.
Minister Bowen's Hopefulness.
Minister Bowen gave out the following
statement Saturday night:
II have good reason to believe that the
pending controversy between the three al
lied powers and Venezuela will be settled
soon and satisfactorily
Mr.. Bowen said that he was able to make
this positive statement after a number Of
conferences held during the day and even
ing with the representatives Of the allied
powers. He expressed his qualification over
the prospects OF speedy settlement Of the
difficulty. He had nothing to say, however,
as to whether the assurances he has re-
ceived include an immediate raising Of the
blockade
His latest proposition, the important fea-
ture of which is the matter Of guaranty as
q preliminary to the raising Of the blockade,
was in the hands of all the allies today and
Mr.. Bowen thinks an answer might be re-
ceived In Washington within a very few
days, possibly tomorrow.
From trustworthy source 1t Is learned
that Venezuelas attitude with respect to
claimants is that there shall be preferred
creditors. The contention of the blockading
powers that their claims shall be adjusted
first. 1t is declared on authority, will be
resisted to the utmost. 1t Is we'll under
stood that in the representation of Ven
eZuela by Minister Bowen he has been in
structed to treat with the powers demand
ing indemnities on a fair and equitable
basis and to secure II possible the conces-
sion of a reasonable time in which to satis-
fy these demands. 1t is said that Ven
eZuela, in view of her efforts through Min
lister Bowen to effect a settlement as speedi-
1y as possible, regards wanton the bonn
bardments which have taken place and as
rendering it more difficult to reach an un-
derstanding with the claimants.
Yesterdays Conferences
There was a long conference between
Minister Bowen and the British ambassa-
dor yesterday, followed by shorter confer
ences between Sir Michael Herbert Signor
Mayor des Planches, the Italian ambassa-
dor. and Count Quadt, the German charge
daffaires. All the negotiators decline to
discuss the results of the meetings but
general statements by them that the situa-
ton warrants hope of early relief is sig
nifcant of what has been accomplished
since Saturday morning
Minister Bowen and also the State De-
partment are greatly impressed with the
attitude OF the representatives in WASH
ington of the allies throughout the present
negotiations. While acting at all times un-
der instructions from their foreign offices
they have expedited matters considerably
by their straightforward manner of dealing
with NeneZuela's representative. This fact
especially has appealed to the Washington
officials, who, while not participating in the
preliminaries, necessarily are yitally inter-
ested In their results Although Germany Is
sending a special envoy here to conduct
the negotiations for her, Minister Bowen
has taken occasion to express his absolute
satisfaction with the manner in which
Count Quadt has represented his govern.
ment.
The Triple Alliance.
The important fact was developed yes-
terday that the triple alliance against Ven
ezuela was far more comprehensive than
was supposed at first. The agreement be-
tween Great Britain, Germany and Italy
involved not only joint initiative action
for the collection their claims, but each OF
the three powers pledged itself to lift the
blockade simultaneously. This fact was
learned from a European diplomat who is
acquainted with the details of the alliance
and explains the fruitless efforts made by
Ambassador Meyer at Rome and Mr.. Henry
White. the American charge at London, as
well as by Mr.. Bowen acting for Venezuela
to sever the agreement and secure the con-
sent of at least one Of the allies to lift the
blockade. The ironclad nature of the ain
ance already has been communicated to the
State Department by Charge White and II
Is that fact which was responsible for the
grave apprehensions heretofore felt regard
Ing the outcome OF the dispute. The reply
OF the powers, therefore, necessarily Will
be joint A favorable answer to Minister
Bowen's last proposition. and 1t is the be-
lief Of all the negotiators well as of the
administration that the answer will be ia.
vorable, will mean the immediate with.
drawal OF all the blockading ships, while
declination to accept the guaranty offered
by MI. Bowen must result In the continu-