Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1903-01-31

Contention Of the Three Powers That
Their Claims Shall Have Precedence
Over Those Of Other Nations is the
Point on Which the Negotiations
Now Hang Fire-Case May Vet Go
to The Hague.
Washington, Jan. 30.-The Vene-
xuelan situation Is still very uncertain,
and officials are awaiting with some
concern the developments of the next
forty-eight hours. No final answer has
come to Minister Bowen's proposition
offering a guaranty as demanded by
the allies. as a preliminary to the rails
ing of the blockade and the relief of
the unfortunate situation In which the
blockade places the people and govern
ment Of Venezuela. The contention
Of the three allies that they shall be
given preferential treatment in settle
mcnt and payment of their claims as
against all the other wen creditor
nations. Is the point on which the me-
gotiatiOns now hang fire. Minister
Bowen is insistent that the allies shall
not have preferential treatment In the
matter of payment of the claims, and
In all his conferences with the repre-
sentatives Of the European govern
ments here he has made his position
very clear. 1t is known that he has
declined to modify his demands in this
respect. Pressure along certain in
fluential lines has been brought to bear
on the allies to show the justice Of
Mr.. BOwen's contention. The rejection
OF his proposition for the treatment of
all creditors alike, it is believed here,
would result in throwing the case to
The Hague tribunal. before which body
all the nations having claims against
Venezuela would be placed on an equal
footing. 1t is known that the allies
would prefer that this should not be
done. as consideration Of the claims
by that body would entail much delay
In their settlement, and there are other
features which make it desirable to
the allies that the claims be settled
outside that body. One of them is that
if they came before The Hague. vene-
zuela would have the right to
Set Up Counter Claims
as an Offset to those presented by the
allies. These, it is said, might reduce
considerably the amount of none to
be paid by Venezuela.
For these and other aso it is not
surprising to well informed persons
here that the European governments
are taking time to consider fully their
reply to Mr.. BOwen's proposition be-
fOro mokin0 thni~ Anal cyo
the same time the fact that they have
not agreed upon their answer caused
an uneasy feeling in Washington and
some apprehension as to what the fu-
ture may bring forth.
Minister Bowen continues hopeful
of a favorable answer to his PROPOSE.
ton. He realizes that the question is
an important n to the. nations in
vOlved, and is not unwilling that they
should take time to consider the ques-
ton fully. Up to a late hour the al.
lies representatives had received no
answer from their governments, and
there was no occasion for them to see
Mr.. Bowen.
1t is learned that on the second day
after his arrival here, Minister Bowen
informed the French diplomatic rep
resentative in Washington. that the
French claims would be treated on the
same basis as claims of the allies and
would be taken up after the blockade
was raised. Relying on this assurance,
the French government has remained
inactive, but 1t Is stated that should
the allied powers be granted %preferen-
tial treatment France would take steps
at once to protect her Venezuelan in
and would make representa-.
tions on the subject to the foreign Of
fees at London, Berlin and Rome.