The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-02-03

Washington, January 31.-It develop
ed today that the answers CT the allied
powers to Minister BOwen's latest pro-
position arrived here yesterday but
were not Immediately presented to the
minister. The answers were to the
effect that the allies could not consent
that the United States and the other
claimant nations receive the same
treatment as the blOckading powers
and that they therefore rejected in
toto Mr.. BoWen's final proposition.
Knowing the consequences that were
TO follow he presentation of this an
swer the representatives of the allies
took upon themselves the responsibility
Of withholding the notes of their gov
ernments and of again cabling, urging
q retraction of their preferential de-
mand. Exchanges are still in progress
between the Italian, British and Ger
manembassies, but there is no evid anCe
tina tthe allies intend yielding. If they
hold out, their representatives must
present the joint refusal and the Wash
ington negotiations will come to
standStill
Baron Sternberg Germany's new
envoy extraordinary and minister plen-
ipotentiary to the United States, con-
ferred today with Count Quadt, who.
as charge u d'affaires, has thus far con-
Quoted the Venezuelan negotiations for
Germany. Afterward the minister
called by appointment at the state de-
partment and presented his letters of
credence TO Secretary Hay, and after
wards to the president. From the
White House Baron Sternburg went to
the British embassy. Baron Stern
burg in his calls at the state depart
ment and the British embassy today
found the outlook for relief of the
present deadlock exceedingly gloomy.
and he has cabled as much to his gov
ernrnent
During a call today of Mr.. De Mar
gerie upon Secretary Hay, the fact
developed that the French charge has
received specific Instructions from his
government 10 insist that France shall
not be Disseminated against in the set
tlement of the Venezuelan claims.
Having the personal assurance of MI
Bowen that the French claims shall
not be Disseminated against, Mr.. Mar
serie refrains at present from action
but as soon as he shall be assured by
Er. Bowen that the allies refuse to
permit such treatment to the French
claims as he expects, he will take steps
TO lodge a formal protest against the
proposed discrimination and in so doing
he expects to be Joined by the repre-
sentatiyes of the other claimant ma
tons here.
Americans Force the Blockade.
Puerto Cabello. January 31.-Two
Americans, James Cooper and GrOvie
Allen have arrived here in a SlOOp af-
ter having forced the blockade. Cooper
ia an ex-confederate major of cavalry
and Allen is q. military engineer. They
have come to side with Venezurla
against the allies in the event of hos
tilitieS They left here for Caracas to-
day.
che Feeling IN Cnraca.
Caracas, January 31.-All the news
papers of Caracas have published ar
6Cles to the effect that the action of
allies in imposing upon Venezuela
special preferential treatment in tho
Hettlement Of their own claims j
par with all their previous acts since
the beginning of the present difficulty;
namely. unjust. and unreasonable.
The correspondent of the Associated
Press approached the members Of the
diplomatic corps here asking for their
opinion on this phase of the matter.
Two declined to speak but a third was
willing to discuss the matter for pub
lication provided his name was rot
used. He said: THE action of Great
Britain, Germany and Italy in trying
10 impose favored treatment for their
claims, and in demanding an immediate
cash payment arises from the fact
that they know their claims are not
well founded. My colleague, Mr.. HaG-
gard (the British minister) before his
departure presented claims 70 the ven
ezuelar government on behalf Of
Great Britain TO the amount of
SS0GO The remainder of Great
Britains claims against VeneZue-
la is not known. What they may
be is problematical. It must be re-
membered that schooners from the
British island of Trinidad have been
assisting the Matos revolutionists, as
well as smuggling, and that three YES
sells have been rightfully seized by
Venezuela. Great Britain was sure be
fore hand that no tribunal would re-
cognize certain of her claims and
therefore she wanted to force iInn1edi-
ate payment.
Germany, for the same reason, does
not desire that the Disconto-Gessel
shaft loan scandal become known to
the financial world. The Italians have
no industrial enterprise in Venezuela
Italians here are mostly agricultural
Iaborers and peddlers; these undoubt-