Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-11
Tenor of Instructions Sent
Here.
MR.. BOWEN'S EFFORTS
ENDEAVoRING TO SMOOTH AWAY
DIPLOMATIC DIFFICULTIES.
Ambassadors Here Trying to Bring
Their Home Offices Into Ac-
cord.

LONDON, February 11.-Minister Bow
ems formal acceptance OF the British
protocol is not believed here 10 be likely
to hasten to any great extent the conclusion
Of the Venezuelan negotiations. The AS
ISOLATED Press is informed that the allies
ambassadors have been strictly enjoined
not to sign any Of the prot ocols .tntil all
three powers are satisfied with the terms.
when the signatures will be Simultaneous
When the question of separate treatment
of the allies Is brought before The Hague
court of arbitration the triple alliance will
appear as one power, their interests being
regarded as identical.
Trying to Close Up Negotiations.
Having reached an agreement with the
British government for settlement Of the
Venezuelan claims, Mr.. Bowen today is en-
deavoring to rapidly close up the negOtia-
lions with Germany and Italy. 1t is gath
cred that a misunderstanding which has
arisen in the German foreign Office Is at the
bottom of the delay now.
Evidently it was supposed there that the
preliminary articles of the protocol as pre-
pared here before the advent of Baron Won
Sternburg provided for the prompt payment
Of the full sum claimed in the original ulti-
matum namely $3JO,0OO. the only difference
between the first and last propositions being
d
the sum above named, required by the
ultimatum. the procotol would require the
Immediate payment of $2I,5O0 for personal
claims and then provide for the application
of 30 per cent of the customs revenues at
Porto Cabello and La Guaira until the re-
mainder of the $4,000 was paid.
Nothing Left for the Others.
Mr.. Bowen was unable to see any differ
ence between such demand and a straight
nd rofo al M for he
argued that after paying the allies on that
basis there would be nothing left for the
other and non-coercing powers. 1t is be-
lieved that he succeeded in impressing his
views upon the allied representatives here.
and 1t was understood that that stage OF the
negotiations had been closed, and the sub
ject could not be reopened.
On that point the Berlin foreign ONCE IS
supposed to have differed, and SO the ex-
changes going on are directed to making
the situation clear to that office. 1t Is
hoped that this can soon be done.
Meeting at British Embassy.
Great Britain and Italy have been asked
If they will object to an increase In the
cash payment awarded Germany should the
Berlin government refuse to stand by its
previous pledges and insist upon an ad-
vance payment of more than the $500 al
ready promised by Mr.. Bowen to each OF
the allies. Personally 1t is the opinion OF
the British and italian ambassadors, as It
is of Mr.. Bowen, that if Germany can af-
ford to put herself on record as taking such
action Venezuela will not be the loser by
paying few more thousand dollars cash.
The matter came up in a joint conference
at the British embassy today, at which
were present Mr.. Bowen, the Italian and
British ambassadors and the German en-
voy.
The ambassadors have cabled to London
and Rome for advice. but it is not expect
eo that either foreign office will protest.
At the German embassy no definite ad-
vices have yet been received regarding .he
question of the advance payment of t1c
$40 600 demanded Of Castro by Germany
in the original ultimatum. 1t is stated that
this demand was inserted In the protocol
through misunderstanding, and that
when the matter is cleared up the objec-
tionable article will be eliminated.
Trying to Effect Adjustment
The German envoy is bending every effort
to an early adjustment of the question
that the signing Of the proto.o.s may net
be further delayed. AS soon as Berlin in
dictates a willingness to rem I'VE this r.
stacle the final drafts Of the German and
italian protocols will be mad, with all
possible dispatch
No answer has yet come from Germany
TO the request Of Mr.. Bowen that she turn
over to Venezuela, upon the raising of the
blockade. the vessels seized by the German
men-of-war. The British protocol contains
this provision. as will the Italian and 1t is
Mr. Bowers wish that Germany also con-
sent.
Mr.. Bowen makes the point that the allies
cannot afford to keep these vessels, In view
Of the fact that they are not the navy Of
Venezuela. but her revenue cutters, which
are necessary to the maintenance of order
in the country. Without these ships Vene-
Zuela would be unable to prevent smuggling
The German envoy appreciates the argu-
ments OF Mr.. Bowen. and has referred the