Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-09
MR. BOWEN DECLINES
Cannot Sign the German
Draft of Protocol.
DELAYS NEGOTIATIONS
VENEZUELAN BLOCKADE.
Suffering Among Foreigners There
Pressure on London, Berlin
and Paris.
DELAYS NEGOTIATIONS

AS the Venezuela issue stands today the
British protocol Is so drawn that Mr.. Bowen
may accept 1t in principle. But the German
draft it stands is unacceptable and the
differences between the negotiators as TO
that protocol are more marked than In the
case OF any other. One statement made,
and this statement is not by Mr.. Bowen,
that while the Germans, with the other
allies. in principle accepted the proposed
reference to The Hague of the question of
allowing preferential claims, yet their pro-
tocol it is said, is so drawn as to practical
ly require such preferential treatment in
advance of the submission of the case to the
tribunal
Declines to Sign.
Mr.. Bowen feels that the German protocol
would not be acceptable to tho Venezuelan
government, and he has, therefore, declined
to sign 1t In its present form, which necessi-
tates a reference Of the document back to
Berlin and extension of the negotiations
beyond the time when 1t was hoped by the
authorities here that that important phase
Of the subject could be closed and the
blockade lifted. The reports that come
from Caracas are to the effect that great
suffering is being inflicted upon many in
nocent persons, and the foreign residents
are bearing more than their share of the
rigors of the blockade because their
more complex wants are not to be satisfied
with the coarse native food which suffices
the Venezuelans From that element
therefore, pressure is being brought upon
London. Berlin and Rome which may have
some effect in Fastening the negotiations
here. 1t is believed that Italy is not likely
to prove an obstacle to the winding up Of
these negotiations, for, although naturally
0esirouS of obtaining all the advantages
she can by the injection into the protocol
Of extraneous matter, it is believed that she
will not prove obstinate when once her al
a n xxrhiT iTh
can be accepted by Venezuela.
Baron Won Sternberg, the German minis
ter was active this morning in his efforts
to hasten the negotiations and spent some
time with the British ambassador and also
with Mr.. Bowen at the latter's hotel
The probability of the submission Of the
Venezuelan issue to The Hague has already
had the effect to attract the attention of in
ternational lawyers, for 1t is realized that
the questions to be decided are 81 impor-
tant to the future of the three Americas
that the highest grade of legal talent will
be called into service.
Immediate Payment.
1t is understood that the protocol submit
ted by Baron Won Sternberg on behalf Of
the German government calls for the imme-
diate payment of the sum of Is, 500 sterling
By the Venezuelan government In this re-
spect 1t is the same as the protocol SUBJ
mitted by Sir Michael Herbert in behalf of
the British government and by Sgnor des
Planches for the Italian government. The
payment of This money to the allies Is to
be followed Immediately by the withdrawal
OF the blockade. The matter of the adjudi-
cation of the general claims and the col
lection of 30 per cert out of which they
are TO be met has been left for the second
protocol.
Regarding reference to The Hague Mr..
Bowen has Informed the allies that he will
not consent that one man be selected from
the personnel OF The Hague tribunal to sit
lrbi ;y1 tl.A
treatment He wishes that this court shall
consist OF three, and preferably of five,
members.
Objectionable Words Withdrawn.
Several more or less sensational stories
have been in circulation during the last few
days which have caused considerable an
noyance 10 the British ambassador and to
the other neSotiators regarding the note
Mr.. Bowen addressed to the former on
Monday last, proposing that the question
OF preferential treatment go to The Harda.
That these reports may be corrected the
neEotiators are desirous that the facts
should be stated On Tuesday after he
sending OF this note to the British ambas-
sador the latter called on M. Bowen and
asked that he withdraw the entire note on
the ground that it was not diplomatic In
character. Mr. Bowen declined to grant
this request.
The ambassador then asked that the SEN
fence beginning On this side of the
water We warft peace and not alliance" be
Withdrawn. Again Mr.. Bowen said he re-
GREETED that he could not grant the am
Dassadors request. Finally the ambassa-
oor represented that the latter part of the
sentence regarding the continuance of the
aIlance OF Great Britain with Germany
ana ltaly would cause him embarrassment
when submitted to the Italian ambassador
and the German minister. Mr. Bowen re-
pied that in order to further the negotia-
uohs ne would strike out the Objectionable
clause, which read as follows:
And 1t will occasion great surprise and
regret when 1t becomes known that Great
Britain has even proposed continuing her
present alliance with Germany and italy
one moment longer than she must"