The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-02-02
MORE TALK OF COMPROMISE.
Allies Asked to Come Within tn,
Bounds of Reason.


Bounds of Reason.
Washington. Feb. propositions in
yolving a compromise of the allied
powers contention for preferential
Urea tment in the settlement of their
claims against Venezuela have been
submitted to the governments of Great
Britain, Germany and Italy by their
representatives at Washington. ana
while no answers have been received
as yet there is reason for the bellet
that the allies Will see way to ac-
cept the latest proposition. This COM
promise has been suggested by one Oh
the representatives Of the allies mere,
and while it has not formally received
the endorsement of Minister Bowen. II
is felt that he Will not enter serious
objection to its adoption provided the
United States and the other claimant
nations outside the alliance can be
convinced that their own interests in
Venezuela viii not be substantially in
jured BY yielding to a plan which
seems to offer a solution OF the ps snt
serious hitch in the Washington ne
gotiatiOns.
Under Consideration.
The details of the proposition now
under consideration by the three al
lied nations are not o5tainable, but in
a general way it is understood to De
a modification of the allies contention
that they be recognized as Venezuela S
preferred claimants in the payment or
the indemnity. The plan suggested pro-
vides that for a short period, perhaps
six months or a year, Great Britain,
Germany and Italy shall receive eX-
clusively 80 per cent of the customs
receipts of the ports of Porto CabellO
and La Guayra and that at the end
of this period the exact length or
which is vet open to decision. all the
he MI he m q
footing, and at the expiration of that
time the 80 per cent of the receipts Of
these two ports be divided among all
the claimant nations in ratio based on
the amount OF each nations claim.
The plan is regarded as a cOmpro-
mise which will enable the allies to
withdraw their ships from Venezuelan
waters without a serious loss of pres
tige.
Others Have Interests.
Whether the claimant nations out
side the tripartite agreement will as
sent TO this scheme. is not yet known.
The British ambassador called by ap-
pointment on Secretary Hay this after
noon at . o'clock, and it is believed that
some such plan as this was under dis
cussiOn, the British ambassador wish
ing to acquaint himself with the exact
+, attitude Of the United States regard
preferential agreement for the allies.
France has it in her power TO con-
tinue the present deadlock in the
Washington negotiations. for while the
other unallied claimants have outstand-
ing against Venezuela certain unad-
justed claims, all of the French claims
are in a very forward state.
France contends that so far from as
sisting her in the collection of the Ven
ezueIan claims the blockade, if any
thing. has hampered her in that it has
closed all the Venezuelan ports to COM
merce and has prevented for the time
being the collection of the 13 per cent
of the receipts pledged her by treaty.
II Is the hope OF the representatives
OF the allies at washington mat in case
their governments accept in principle
the kind Of compromise suggested they
VIII not insist that the period for pref
erentiaI payments be made so long as
to Drevent its acceptance by the other
claimant nations.
Bowen Waiting For Answer.
Mr. Bowen has been assured that the
representatives of the allies will give
him a final answer at the earliest pos
sib1e moment Meantime exchanges
are still I'm progress here in the effort
to agree on a plan Of settlement that
win he acceptable at once to Venezuela
France. Belgium, Spain, Denmark. Hcl-
land. Norway. Sweden and the United
. mates.
ARv his evident desire 10 take up the
negotiations at Washington with all
the speed consistent with prudence and
good form. Baron Speck Won Sternberg
has gained from the Washington Off
Gals the same favor that made MIN a
popular member of the diplomatic corps
hero MANY wears ago The fact that he
asked permission to waive the custom
ary presentation ceremonies which or
dinarily are for several days, has con-
WINGED Mr.. Bowen and incidentally the
Washington government that Germany
wants the Venezuelan question settled
with all possible dispatch.
The italian ambassador. Signor
Mayor Desplanches. paid an informal
call on Mr. Bowen this afternoon to as
sure the latter that the representatives
of the allies still were communicate ting
with their governments and hoped TO
present an answer in a few days. Sig
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