The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1903-02-07
ULIlAIAIt / ii ISSUED
MINISTER BOWEN Refuses Al
LIED POWERS PREFERENTIAL
TREf\TmENT.


Venezuela Decides to Submit the
Question to The Hague Tribunal.
Mr.. eowen's Note to the European
Nations Rejects Their Proposition
on the Ground That It's Principles
Would Be Offensive to Civilization.
Washington, Feb. 3.-Herbert w.
Bowen. Venezuela's representative In
the negotiations at Washington for the
settlement of the claims against that
country, has sent through the British
ambassador here what amounts prae-
tically to An ultimatum to the allied
powers Of Great Britain, Germany and
Italy regarding their insistenee for
preferential treatment in the settle
ment of their claims against vene-
zuela. This note. which the British
ambassador received shortly before
o'clock p. NJ. was cabled at once 20
London. copies Of 1t being transmitted
to the Italian and German embassies
for transmission to Rome and Berlin.
1t is in reply to the proposition, sub.
mitted at a joint conference Of tho
negotiators during the afternoon, by
the British ambassador. that the allied
powers be allowed two.thirds Of 30
per cent Of the customs receipts of the
ports Of La Guayra and Puerto Ca.
bello, and that the United States and
the other claimant nations. France,
Belgium. Holland, Denmark, Spain
and Norway and Sweden. content
themselves with the remaining 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, the lat.
ter refuses point blank the proposition
for 20 and 10 per cent division on
the ground that to recognize the prin.
ciple 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 informed that Venezuela has de.
cided to submit that question to The
Hague arbitration tribunal. The &C.
ceptance Of this proposition, Vene.
zuela contends, carries with 1t a
Raising Of the Blockade,
the general understanding being that
the blockade would end when the ne.
gotiators at Washington had reached
an agreement.
It is understood that in refusing
this last proposition submitted by the
British ambassador on behalf of the
allies, Mr.. Bowen takes the ground
that he cannot accept in principle the
contention that blockades and bom-
bardment of forts, and the consequent
killing Of helpless men, women and
children, entities any power or alliance
of powers to preferential treatment at
the hands of civilized nation. 1t Is
claimed that should the peace powers
and the blockading powers agree to
such a principle. they would incor.
porate in the law of nations a doctrine
in conflict with the tenets of all mod
ern day ethics.
Moreover, Venezuela, 1t Is stated, re-
CARDS 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 period of six
years or more, and in accepting it
Venezuela would be encouraging and
abetting the maintenance of hostile
alliances against herself. The Brit
ish ambassador Is informed In the note
that Americans north and south want
peace and not alliances.
no <ok {al
tion to the action Of the British gov
ernment in initiating this last propo-
sition by which Great Britain can hold
fast to Germany and Italy in their al.
lance against Venezuela until the last
cent Of tho claim 10 paid. The pre-
AistsA y nSds y h0 YssDsHse that
surprise and regret Of the keenest
sort will be felt throughout the Amer
icas when 1t is known that Great Brit
ain has oven proposed continuing her
present alliance with Germany and
Italy one moment longer than is neces-
sary, particularly In view Of her pre-
vious representations to the effect that
she was anxious to
End the Venezuelan Dispute
and call of the alliance at the earliest
possible time.
In suggesting that the question Of
Hague, it is understood that Mr..
Bowen does so in view OF the fact that
the question is the only one which re-
mains in dispute. The allies are ad.
vised that Venezuela is desirous that
all the negotiators shall stand by what
has been already agreed on. The
British ambassador declined to make
public the text Of the note addressed
to him, as 1t is In reality note to tho
allied powers, but 1t became known
that 1t was along the lines here set
forth and concluded with an appeal
for justice to The Hague tribunal re-
garding the contention Of the allies
for preferential payment, and an as.
sertion that such action carried with
it the raising of the blockade.
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 by
both Mr. Bowen and by the represen-
tatives Of the allies in this city, for
preferential 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 claimant nations. in which
humber is included the United States.
At the joint conference during the
which occurred at o'clock,
besides Mr.. Bowen, the Italian and
British ambassadors and the German
there was also present Count
A. Won Quadt. first secretary Of the
German embassy, who. until the ar
rival Of Baron Speck Won Sternburg,
conducted with activity and judgment
the negotiations on behalf Of his gov
ernment.
General PrinsIoo Dead.
Cape Town, Feb. 3.-The Cape
Times announces the death of the for.
mer Boer commandant, General Prins-