New-York tribune., 1903-02-14
CREDIT DUE TO ENGLAND
Good Faith and Moderation Sho7c's
by ambassador Herbert.
fzv TELEGRAPH TO The rR1BuxE.I


Washington. Feb 13-At II o'clock to-nighs
the representatives of the three allied powers
and Mr. Bowen met at the British Embassy
with the intention of signing the protocols anfi
closing the Venezuelan incident. The delay fEs
the signing was caused by the fact that Baroni
Won Sternburg was obliged to inform his gov
ernment of the exact text OF the clause relst-
ing 70 the mixed commission. and to await its
reply before signing. The British and italian
protocols were read this afternoon. The TERMS
of the protocols have already been printed ms
The Tribune in full They will provide for A.
cash paynnent of about S4O2, 600. of which
S27 500 will be paid to Great Britain imnedi-
ately after the signing of the protocols. S2I'0Vs
will be paid to Germany in one month, ands
S27 $50 to Italy in two months after the sign
ing The remainder, amounting to abou0
S320O0O. will be paid to Germany in five MONTH
Iy instaIments beginning March u. Ger
many thus receives $4,000. about thirteen
times the amount paid to either of the other
allies The allies. on their part agree to raise
the blockade at once. and to return all ships
both war and merchant, seized during the block
ade as soon as possible. The expectation Is that
the blockade will be raised within few hours
after the protocols are signed. and messages to
this effect are already in writing
The other provisions of the protocols relate
to the selection of mixed tribunals. and name
in the case of a disag greement over the claims
of allies They provide that the payment of 50
per cent of the customs receipts of Puerto Ca
bello and La Guayra shall begin on April
for the month of March. but that Venezuela
shall he the custodian of the money until The
Hague tribunal has rendered it's decision IN the
matter of preferential treatment They also
provide that in case tn, matter of preferential
treatment is not settled by the representatives
all he
Hague. This phraseology has been followed
simply because it has been the wish to keep this
matter open as long as possible The signing
of the protocols will, however. send 1t to The
Hague. The British protocol contains state
ment of regret the part OF the Venezuelan
Government for the brutality to British sub
iects: the italian contains d recommendation
by both the Italian Ambassador and the repre-
sentative of Venezuela that new commerciat
treaty between Italy and Venezuela, according
TO Italy the most favored nation treatment.
be drafted and signed. 1t also contains sons
expression of regret similar to that in the Brit
ish document.
The closing up Of the Venezuelan affair is
viewed with the greatest satisfaction by official
circles here The unanimous opinion is that
whatever credit has been derived from the af-
fair goes to the British Government and tho
British Ambassador. for the absolute good faith
and moderation shown. The size of the British
cash payment was fixed by the British, who
were allowed to name the sum. and. waving
their original demand. they fixed it at the sur
prisirgIy low figure of $4,000 although their
original demand was the same as Germany's.
Moreover. it was the willingness OF the Britists
To waive their priority in favor of Germany that
led 10 the final settlement. since Italy followed
their example
OF the German attitude the opinion is far diff
ferent Criticism of their insistence on exactlns-
the last pfennig of their demand in the face Of
the agreement of their representative to accept
the same sum as Great Britain and Italy ac-
cepted and consistently adhered 10 is well nigh
unanimous IT, as he is credibIy reported. Mr.
Bowen told Baron Sternburg that for every
one of the thousand dollars he demanded to-day
Germany would lose 81, 100000 in South Ameri-
can commerce in the future, he only voiced the
opinion Of those in the highest ranks of official
and diplomatic life in this city. The fact that
Germany alone of all the three powers. broke
away from the agreement OF it's representatives
and insisted on an extortionate demand is the
more viewed with disapprobation. from the fact
that the British and Italian governments. in
their desire to reach a settlement. waived their
own claims and gave Germany precedence in
the interests of peace-a fact which the publca-
tion of the details of the negotiations will sub
stantiate Italy wavered for a time to-day. and
presented a demand for full cash payment OF
S56oOO0 \ refusal was. however. accepted
At the beginning the demands for cash pay
ment served upon Venezuela amounted to
81 2OOOO0; they have been reduced 70 Sft0"He
The question Of preferential treatment. which
was felt be matter of considerable I'M
portance on this side of the Atlantic. goes to
The Hague for settlement. thereby inSuring a
decision which will be of great importance on
similar occasions. The peace creditors OF
Venezuela are satisfied with the course pursued.
and the protocols will allow them to share with
varezueIa the expense Of The Hague tribunal