The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-02-14
signatures to Britain's and Italy's
and to Germany's at 1910 a. m.
BLOCKADE WILL BE RAISED
AND QUESTION OF PREFERENTIAL
TREATMENT GO TO THE HAUGE.
Point Gained by the Italian Govern
ment-German Reply to Criticism-
Speech by Premier Balfour.

WASHINGTON. Feb. 13.-Herbert w.
Bowen, venezuela's representative in the
peace negotiations at Washington. tonight
signed with each of the allies representa-
mediate raising Of the Venezuelan block
ade and for the reference of the question
of preferential treatment of the claims of
the allies against Venezuela to The Hague
arbitration tribunal. The final formalities
took place at the British embassy.
At u:30 o'clock tonight Mr.. Herbert
Dering, first secretary of the British en-
bassy, announced that the British protocol
had just been signed and that signature of
the Italian and German protocols would
follow in the order named. The Italian
protocol was signed at n:50 and the Ger
man protocol at 1910 o'clock. the presence
of Baron Won Sternberg at the White
House musicale delaying final close to
the negotiations until after midnight.
The British protocol was In English, the
Italian in Italian and German and the Ger
man in German and English Mr.. Bowen
signed in duplicate for Venezuela, Sir
Michael Herbert for Great Britain, Signor
Mayor Des Planches for Italy and Baron
speck Won sternberg for Germany.
Immediately on the signing of the last
protocol cables were dispatched to London,
Berlin and Rome announcing the fact.
1t is expected the commanders Of the
blockading fleet within the next twenty
four hours will receive their orders to
withdraw their vessels at once.
BY the provisions of these preliminary
protocols, which have required more than
three weeks of constant negotiations, Ven-
ezuela makes two distinct gains, the i'm
mediate raising of a blockade from which
she has been suffering for some weeks and
the return of all her vessels, war and mer-
chant. which have been captured by the al
lied fleet.
Great Britain, Germany and Italy re-
ceived advance payments of $500 each
Great Britain receiving her payment on the
signature of the protocol and Germany and
Italy within thirty and sixty days from
date. Germany, in addition, will receive
five monthly payments until the full
amount paid her in advance aggregates
$4,000 AS a guaranty for the satisfaction
of their claims MIR. Bowen pledges the al
lies a share with the other creditor nations
in 80 per cent. OF the customs receipts OF
the two ports of Laguayra and Puerto Ca
bello. This percentage will be set aside
beginning March 1 and retained in the Ven-
ezuelan treasury until The Hague tribunal
shall decide whether it shall be distributed
without preference among the claimant ma
tions, or whether the allied powers of
Great Britain. Germany and Italy shall re-
ceive preferential payments.
Italy, by her protocol. gains immediate
payment of her first-class claims without
further adjudication, as soon as the joint
commission at Caracas shall have passed
on the remainder of her claims. In round
numbers the adjudicated Italian claims
amount to $4,000. from which viii be SUBJ
tracted $27,500 to be paid her sixty days
from the signature of her first protocol
The Italian ambassador also has secured
for his government the insertion in his
protocol Of an agreement that Venezuela
win insert in her treaty with Italy the Ia