Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-21
MINISTER BOWEN IN CAPITAL
Man oe the Hour Reaches Washing
ton to Discuss Venezuelan
EmbroEIio with AIIies.

WASHINGTON. Jan. 2O,-Mnister and
Mrs Bowen reached hee shortly after
noon, their train being eve hours late.
They were met at the station by their
nephew, Hamilton Hol, OF New Yorkt and
drove at once to the Arlington hotel
Immediately after luncheon Minister
Bowen called at the state department He
had long conference with Assistant Sec
retary Hill. He then went to the home of
Secretary Hay to report bis arrival, and
afterNard visited the representatives Of the
powers now in Washington.
He wants above all things an excuse to
femove the blockade. So. when he called
on the representatives Of the allies he
urgently requested them to name an early
day for beginning negotiations.
LONDON, Jan. 20.--The statement that
Minister Bowen has been authorized by
President Castro to offer the Venezuelan
customs as a guaranty for the fulfllment
of his country's obligations is confirmed.
The offer has not yet been accepted and
it is thought here that IL may afford the
opportunity for a withdrawal of the block
ade. The matters will be considered by
the European representatives at Washing
ton.
A dispatch to Reuters Telegram com
pany from Port OF Spain. Trinidad, says
nearly 100 blockade runners have been cap
tured since the blockade Of the Venezuelan
coast began.
The reports Of friction between the Ger
man and British naval officers are denied.
BERLIN, Jan. 2O.-The surprise ex-
pressed at Washington that the German
cruiser Panther should try to enter Mara
caibo harbor is not understood here, where
the operation is regarded as a simple act
OF force consequent upon the maintenance
of an effective blockade.
/. The allied commanders, including the
italian and British, must, under the agree
ment, it is pointed out, have been con-
suited beforehand and have Jointly ordered
the operation, which was left to a German
vessel to carry out because that part OF
the coast was assigned to the Germans
therefore the British and Italian COM
manders share the responsibility equally
with the German commander.
Besides this the view continues to be
held that the blockade must be strictly en-
/ forced until the protocol Is signed, as in
no other way can Castro be kept up to a
realization of the fact that the allies mean
business. It is considered certain that II
the blockade is allowed to languish, the
negotiations at Washington will be length
! ened
| The reason for Panther's action suggested
/ here is that it was to prevent trade with
/ Colombia through the river port OF VII
lanuzar and by the Cataumbo and Zulis
! rivers, which enter into Lake Maracaibo.
Chancellor Won Buelow, discussing the
| Venezuelan situation in the Reichstag to-
| day. said:
| President Castro has recognized in prin-
| ciple the justice of Germanys, Great
| Britain's and Italys demands and has
| agreed to the preliminary conditions for
transferring the controversy to The Hague
! arbitration court. Diplomatic conferences
/ are about to begin at Washington. The
| American government has kindly under
! taken to conduct the negotietio
Our aim is to bring armed action to the
! speediest possible termination. The block
| ade will be raised as soon as the negotia-
tions at Washington have reached salts
| factory conclusion When circumstances
| admit of it l shall give the Reichstag fuller
| information Full agreement has prevailed
between Great Britain and Germany, as
we'll as Italy, throughout the entire mat
| ter.