The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-02-10
GOES TO THE HAGUE
Tribunal Will Be Called
On to Settle Controversy.

stated to him his willingness to make
to Germany and Italy a cash payment
of $500 ($27,O0O) each. This was
done because of Mr.. Bowen's action
in the early part Of the negotiations in
%conceding to Great Britain a similar
ed indemnities which the British gov
eminent claimed it's citizens suffered
in Venezuela. This amount was nam
ed by the British ambassador.
France May Ask for Cash.
1t was intimated today that France
might nov come forward and ask for
the same cash payment for herself
as that given the allies. Various in
timations have leaked out mere re-
garding certain details of the plan
proposed by Mr.. Bowen and already
accepted by the allies for the set
Element of their claims against Vene-
zuela after the veXed question of
preferential treatment shall have been
decided. The Associated Press is en-
abled to state in it's entirety the plan
agreed upon. After the preferential !
question has been settled the adjudi-
cation of the claims of each OF the
creditor nations interested is to be
taken up by a separate commission,
one for each claimant power. These
commissions will first consist of
a representative of the creditor ma
ton and a representative for Vene-
Zuela.
King May Take Part.
In case of disagreement the king
of Spain is in each instance to ap-
point an arbiter. 1t is expected that
each claimant power will appoint its
envoy at Caracas to represent it on
it's commission and President Castro
will delegate either the Venezuelan
minister for foreign affairs or some
other official of the foreign Office at
Venezuela as representative. Where
the services of an arbiter are needed
the king of Spain will, in all probable
ity, select for this mission the Spanish
minister to Caracas, who is recognize
ed as an able diplomat.
How Payments Will Be Made.
After the commission claims have
been adjusted they are to be collected
by the Venezuelan officials from the
customs receipts of the two ports of
Puerto Cabello and La Guayra, 80 per
cent being the amount which Mr..
Bowen and the allies have agreed
upon shall be set aside for this pur
pose. In the event that the Caracas
government permits 80 days at any
time during the settlement of the
claims to pass without prompt and
full payments to any nation, the plan
provides that the Belgian government
shall then step in and take charge
of the administration of the customs
receipts to insure fair treatment for
the foreigners. This idea was sug-
gested to Mr.. Bowen by the fact that
the Belgians are now in entire charge
OIL LuG ullllllSLldtlOl u CAO
receipts of Persia, where Mr.. Bowen
was minister before his appointment
to Venezuela.
May Cause Trouble.
An official of the Washington gov
eminent upon learning tonight of the
intention of the allies to appeal to
President Roosevelt to act as arbiter
for them in the matter OF preferential
treatment made the point that If the
allies appeal to the president without
first consulting Mr.. Bowen and gain
ing his consent Venezuela will feel
that her rights are being trampled
upon and unless her permission Is
gained will certainly not consent to
the powers naming the arbiter of this
vital question. In the event that
the matter goes to The Hague, the
allies will only be accepting the propo-
sition made by Mr.. Bowen in his ulti-
matum addressed to the British am
bassador last Monday.
Baron Sternberg held a conference
with Mr.. Bowen at a late hour to-
night. He went to Mr.. Bowen's hotel
from the white house where he had at
tended the congressional reception,
and the two remained in consultation
for half an hour. Neither one would
make a statement at the conclusion
of the conference.
New Union Organized.
Butte Eeh 6-The latest OrganiZa-