New-York tribune., 1903-02-06
APPEAL TO PRESIDENT.
THE ALLIES INTENTION.
If He vii Not Act as .frbiter,
U,W 90 to The Hague.
- - AssociateI -

Washington, Feb. J--Irritated by the note ot
Minister Bowen. VenezueIa's representative. sd-
dressed to the British Ambassador on Monday
last refusing to accept the allies proposal for a
scheme Of preferential payments by which Great
Britain. Germany and Italy we're receive ~
per cent and the remaining creditor nations -
per cent Of the customs receipts Of La Ciusyra
and Porto CabeIlo, the allied powers have in
structed their representatives here 70 submit
the question of preferential treatment to Presi-
dent Roosevelt for settlement. and. in the event
that he declines to act as arbiter 70 take tbis
and possibly the entire Venezuelan controversy
to The Hague. thereby breaking of negotiations
with Mr. Bowen
At 10 o'clock tomorrow at the British Ems
bassy there wiz be a conference Of the repre-
sentatives IF the allies In view of the fact that
the London Government is now taking the lad
in the negotiations. the British Ambassador viii
preside a this conference In the mean time hs
expects to have an interview with the Secretary
of state. whom he will sound as to the probs-
hity Of the Presidents acceptance Of the allles'
request. II it is found that President Roosevelt
is not disposed to allow himself - be draggsd
into the negotiations, the Instructions OF the al
lies are such as to permit them 10 forego ths
emharra ssment Of a rejection at the hands &c
Mr.. Roosevelt, and instead OF making known
their wishes to him. steps will be taken TO draw
up a protocol with Mr.. Bowen for 2 reference of
the case to The Hague. as suggested by slan IN
his note OF last Monday The British Arnb1ss
sador was the first Of the representatives to re-
ceive instructions to this effect. and the mstter
was discussed at the MONDAY conference be-
tween the three representatives Of the allies.
Announcement Of the decision Of the allies -
abandon further negotiations with Mr. Bowen
has not been received with surprise by the few
officials Of the Washington Government whS
have been advised of it. The Hague trlhunal'
said an official OF the administration tonight,
has all along been kept in sight as port ot
safety in case the negotiations here we're not
productive Of hna1 settlement And as for
the suggestion that the President act as arbitsr.
that has been favorite idea of the allies sines
the beginning of The trouble
PRESIDENTS ACCEPTANCE IN DOUBT.
Whether President Roosevelt will accept this
invitation of the allies is not known. An off,
cial of the administration expressed his sur
prise tonight that the allies would be willing
to submit this question to the President. in view
of the fact that their representatives withi1 the
last few days have informed them by cable that
the President views with disfavor the conten-
ton of the allies for preferential treatment
The Instructions received by the British Am
bassador are not quite clear as to the altsrns-
tive TO he pursued in the event that the Presi-
Of priority payments II is not known whether
the protocol which VIII then be drawn NJ wtts
Mr., Bewsn wiki provide for reference Of the
entire case to The Hague whether the allies
are willing 70 stand by what they have secured
here and viii consent TO have The Hague srbt-
trate the one question of preferential treatment.
The drafting of a protocol viii. IT is expected,
occupy some time but it IS the understanding
that the submission OF the matter eiths~
10 he raised ct once.
An official of the Washington 'fCvernWeDt-
upon learning tonight Of the intention Of tho
allies to appeal to President Roosevelt to act -
arbiter for them in rhe matter of preferential
treatment. made the Significant point that II IoS
allies appeal to the President without first con-
suting Mr.. Bowen and gaining his consent Een-
ezuela VIII feel that her rights are being tram
pied on. and unless Hrr permission is gained,
will certainly not consent TO the powers naming
the arbitef Of tbs vital question. In the eveuF
that the matter goes to The Hague, the allies
win only be accepting the proposition made by
Mr. Bowen in his note to the British Ambassa-
dor last MOnda..