The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-02-06
APPEAL TO ROOSEVELT
PRESIDENT WILL Be ASKED TO-DAY
TO ACT AS ARBITRATOR.
IF His Answer Be UnfavOrable the
Matter Will Be Referred to
The Hague Court.

note which Minister Bowen. Venezuela s
representative, addressed to the British am
bassador on Monday last, refusing to ac-
cept the allies proposal for a scheme of
preferential payments by which Great Brit
ain. Germany and Italy were to receive 20
per cent. and the remaining creditors 10 per
cent. OF the customs receipts of Laguayra
and Puerto Cabello. the allied powers have
instructed their representatives here to
submit the question OF preferential treat
meat for settlement to President Roosevelt.
and in the event that he declines to act as
arbitrator to take this and possibly the
entire controversy TO The Hague for set
tlement. thereby breaking off negotiations
with Mr.. Bowen.
At 10 o'clock tomorrow at the British
embassy there will be a conference of the
representatives here of the allies. In view
of the fac. that the London government is
now taking the lead in the negotiations, the
British ambassador viii preside at the
conference In the meantime he expects to
have an interview with the secretary of
state, whom he will sound as to the prob
ability os the Presidents acceptance of the
allies request If it is found that Presi-
himself to be dragged into the negotia-
tions ihe instructions Of the allies are such
as to permit them to forego the embarrass-
ment of a rejection at the hands of Mr..
Roosevelt and instead OF making known
their wishes to him steps will be taken TO
draw up a protocol with Mr.. Bowen for a
reference of the case to The Hague, as sug-
gested by him in his note of last Monday.
The British ambassador was the first of
the representatives TO receive instructions
TO this effect and the matter was discussed
at the MONDAY conference between the
three representatives of the allies.
A PORT OF SAFETY.
Announcement of the decision of the al
lies to abandon further negotiations with
Mr. Bowen has not been received with sur
prise by the few officials of the Washing
ton government who have been advised of
Il. THE Hague tribunal" said an official
OF the administration tonight, .'has all
along been kept in sight as port of safety
in case the negotiations here were not pro-
ductive OF final settlement, and as for
the suggestion that the President act as
arbitrator. 1t was the favorite idea of the
allies since tire beginning of the trouble /"
Whether President Roosevelt will accept
An Official Of the administration expressed
his surprise tonight that the allies would
be willing to submit this question to the
President, In view of the fact that their
representatives within the last few days
have informed them. by cable. that the
President views with disfavor the conten-
tion of the allies for preferential treat
ment.
There Is the best authority for the state
ment that neither Great Britain nor Ger
many is desirous of submitting their case
TO The Hague.
The instructions received by the British
ambassador are not quite clear as to the al
tentative to be pursued in the event that
the President declines TO act as arbitrator
OF the question Of priority payments. IL
Is not known whether the protocol which
has been drawn up with Mr. Bowen will
provide for reference OF the entire case to
The Hague or whether the allies are willing
to stick by what they have secured here and
will consent To have Ths. Ha que arbitrate
the one question of pr. rerentiaI treatment
The drafting Of a protocol will. ii is ex-
reeted. occupy time. but IL is the
understanding that upon the submission of
the matter either 10 the President or The
Hasue the blockade is TO be raised at
once.
IL developed to-day that during a call of
Count Quadf. the first secretary OF the Ger
many embassy. upon Mr.. Bowen this
morning the latter stated him his will
ingness TO make TO Germany and Italy a
cash payment OF $500 or $1,000 each This
was done because OF Mr.. Bowens action In
the early part OF the negotiations In con-
ceding 10 Great Britain a sirailar amount
for satisfaction OF the alleged indignities
which the British government claimed its
citizens hare suffered IN Venezuela This
amount was named by the British ambassa-