The Irish standard., 1903-02-14
PRESIDENT DECLINES
TO ARBITRATE.
Allied Powers Dissatisfied With Bowen's Atti-
tude--Ask President to Arbitrate Ques-
ton of Preferential Payment
--He Refuses.

Washington, Feb. 6-Jrritated by
the note Of Minister Bowen, Venczue.
las representative, addressed to Che
British ambassador on Monday last,
refusing TO accept the allies proposal
Tor scheme of preferential payments.
by which Great Britain, Germany and
Italy were to receive 20 per cent. and
the remaining eight creditor nations
ten percent. OF the customs of La Guay-
"a and Porto Cabello, the allied powers
have instructed their representatives
now to submit the question of prefer.
entail treatment for settlement to
President Roosevelt, and in the event
shat he declines to act as arbiter to
take this, and possibly the entire Ven
ezuela question, to The Hague for set.
Element, thereby breaking off negoti.
ations with Mr.. Bowen.
! Will Not Serve.
washington, Feb. - President
Roosevelt has declined the invita-
ton of the allied powers to arbi-
trate the question as to whether thew
shall receive preferential treatment
IN the settlement of their claims
against Venezuela over the other
creditor nations. He reached this de-
clsion shortly before four o'clock
Friday afternoon, and instructed Sec
rotary Hay to dispatch note to the
British embassy at once, advising the
British ambassador to that effect.
The matter, therefore, now will be
referred to The Hague tribunal. This
Nvi11 ros,,1< 4, %hn i,.->,:.x
of the blockade.
Would Not Embarrass Bowen.
The administration, it is stated in
On official quarter, was unwilling to
approve the effort of the British
government to eliminate Minister
Bowen from the negotiations, and
moreover the president could not
have accepted the invitation of the
allies even had he been so disposed,
without the consent Of the other ne
gotiator. Minister Bowen, and this
the allies did not obtain or request
In their note of invitation to the
president.
A Victory for Bowen.
In administration and diplomatic
circles, the reference to The Hague
is regarded as victory for Minister
Bowen. as Venezuela hereby is ena-
bled to recover from the distressing
effect of the blockade before start
ing upon the payment Of her debts.
The cumbersome machinery of The
Hague. it is expected, will delay mat
ters considerably, and the payment
of creditor nations cannot begin I'M
til the important question of priority
payment for the allies is decided.
The finding of The Hague tribunal
may not be handed down for some
months. The tribunal also will de.
eide the vital question to South
American states as to whether block.
aides and bombardments entitle pow
ers to preferential treatment at the
hands of their debtor. Coming from
The Hague, it will establish prece-
dent, while decision on the point
from President Roosevelt would have
carried no such weight as decisive of
a point of international law. The eff.
feet of an adverse finding by the
president, therefore, could not have
prevented the allied powers from re-
peating their blockade next month
# they desired, whereas an adverse
verdict from The Hague would add a
new canon to the law of nations and
stop such course of practice COM
pletely. st was to gain this princi-
pie, which necessarily vitality affects
not only the future of Venezuela
but of the other republics of this
continent. that Mr.. Bowen stood out
for arbitration by The Hague tribu.
ual instead of by the president.
A Secret Alliance.
Washington, Feb. 9.-The existence
of a secret treaty between Germany
and Italy, by which Germany agreed
to secure to Italy the same treatment
received in the settlement of the Ven
ezuela affair accorded to Great Britain