Evening journal., 1903-02-06
ALLIES TURN NOW
TO ROOSEVELT
Ask President to Decide
Vexed Question of Vene-
zuelan Payments
THEY RESENT Mr. BOWEN'S NOTE

Should President Decline TO Act As
Arbiter the Entire Venezuelan Con.
troversy May Go to The Hague For
Settlement.
Washington, Feb. G.-Irritated by
the note of Minister Bowen, Vene
zuela's representative, addressed to
the British ambassador on Monday
last, refusing to accept the allies pro.
posal for a scheme of preferential
payments by which Great Britain,
Germany and italy were to receive 20
per cent, and the remaining eight
creditor nations 10 per cent. of the
customs receipts of La Guaira and
Porto Cabello, the allied powers have
instructed their representatives here
to submit the question of preferential
treatment for settlement to President
Roosevelt. and in the event that he
declines to act as arbiter, to take this
and possibly the entire Venezuelan
controversy to The Hague for settle
ment, thereby breaking of negotia
tions with Mr. Bowen.
II it is found that President Roose
welt is not disposed to allow himself
to be dragged into the negotiations
the instructions of the allies are sucl
as to permit them to forego the EN-
barrassment OF a rejection at th'
hands OF Mr.. Roosevelt, and instead
of making known their wishes to him
steps will be taken to draw up q pro
tocol with Mr. Bowen for a reference
of the case to The Hague, as suggest
ed by him in his note of last Monday
The British ambassador was the frs
Of the representatives to receive il
structions to this effect and the ma
ter was discussed at yesterdays cor
ference between the three represent;
tiyes OF the allies.
Announcement of the decision of th
allies TO abandon further negotiation
with Mr. Bowen has not been receive
with surprise by the few officials of tn
Washington government who hay
been advised Of 1T. The Hague TT
bunal," said an official of the admit
istration last night, has all alon
been kept in such as a port of safet
in case the negotiations here were ne
productive of a final settlement. An
as for the suggestion that the pres
dent act as arbiter. that has been
favorite idea of the allies since Il
beginning Of the trouble
Whether President Roosevelt wi
accept the invitation of the allies
not known. An official of the admin
tration expressed his surprise that Il
allies would be willing to submit tn
question to the president, in view
the fact that their representativ,
within the last few days have iniorm'
them 10y cable that the president viey
with disfavor the contention of the a
@ lies for preferential treatment
The instructions received by Il
British minister are not quite clear
to the alternative to be pursued in 4
event that the president declines
II act as arbiter Of the question of prio
J. ity payments. Il is not know
g whether the protocol, which will tn
d be drawn up with Mr.. Bowen, W
lt provide for a reference of the enti
v case to the Hague, or whether the {
lies are willing TO stick by what tn
have secured here and will consent
have the Hague arbitrate the one que
tion of preferential treatment. T
e drafting Of a protocol will, it is {
d. pected, occupy some time, but It is I
re- derstood that upon the submission
the matter either to the president
The Hague the blockade will be rails
af onop