The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1903-02-07

Washington, February G. - President
Roosevelt has declined the invitation Of tho
allied powers TO arhitrate the question as to
whether they shall receive preferential
treatment in the settlement OF their claims
against Venezuela over the other creditor
nations. He reached this decision shortly
before o'clock this afternoon and instruct
cd Secretary Hay 20 dispatch a note 20
the British embassy at once, advising the
British ambassador 60 that effect. Tho
matter therefore now will no referred 10
The Hague tribunal. THIS will result In
the immediate rnisins Of the blockade The
administration, II is stated in an official
quarter was unwilling TO approve the et.
fort Of the British governments TO eliminate
Mr.. Bowen from the negotiations and more.
over the president could not have accepted
the invitation Of the allies even had he
been so disposed. without the consent Of
the other neEouator, Minister Bowen And
this the allies did not obtain or request In
their note Of invitation to the president
Tomorrow prellmlnnrics with reference 20
tho signing Of the protocol regarding the
matter being referred to The Hague will
be considered.
INN ediately on receipt OF Secretary Hays
note announcing the presidcut's declination
the British ambassador addressed n com
municaton to AIR Bowen, stating he was
suffering from au attack Of grip and would
he obliged II Mr.. Bowen would call ON
him, The Venezuelan envoy went at once
20 tho embassy, where the British ambas.
! sador explained that he had been too III to
call for several days and announced the
/ arrival Of his protocol, which he wac pre-
| pared 10 submit to Mr. Bowen FOR sigma.
ture. Later the German minister, Baron
! Won Sternberg, called on Mr. Bowen with
! announced tho arrival Of his protocol. To-
morrow's program will include preliminary
preparations for the signing Of the protu
| coils IL developed tonight that two proto
| coils are to be signed by Mr. Bowen with
/ the Italian Ambassador, Siguor Mayor Det
Plnnchee; two with tho British ambassador
and two with the German minister, Baron
spec Won Sternberg. Tho frat protocol II
each case will provide for the refersnee n
the allies contention for preferential treat
meut 70 Tho Hague and the raising OF th'
blockade simultaneously with the dgnint
Of the convention, II Is doubtful whether
tho initial protocols between Minister Bow
en- and tie three allies will cnntala TN
same conditions, though all the uegohator
IRE working 10 this end In these protocol
the conditions precedent TO the raising o
the blockade would be clearly stated, name
ly That 20 per cont of the customs re
cepts Of the ports OF la Guayra and Puerto
Cabello arc 20 be set aside by Venezuela
for the satisfaction Of her creditors ant
the question as to whether the allied pow
ers shall receive preferential treatment, or
as Great Britain terms II, separate" treat
ment In the settlement. shall be referred e
The Hague These protocols also will pro
vide that Venezuela shall pay down to Gael
Of the three allied powers $500 as an mi
tial cash payment. The differences between
these protocols, II is sud, will concern
certain details. the nature OF which is no
yet known even to Mr., Bowen. The Ger
man protocol will be submitted TO him to