Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-07
ROOSEVELT REFUSES
CONTINUED from First Pare.l

that MIR. Bowen has an absolute right, act
ing for Venezuela OF course, to object to
the president acting as arbitrator. To do
so would be painful to MIR. Bowen. whose
admiration for Mr.. Roosevelt is we'll known.
but he felt compelled to keep in mind
that he is not here as an American. but
as the representative Of Venezuela.
The British ambassadors conduct has re-
suited in several details Of the conference
Of last Monday leakinS cut and these are
substantisted by the other negotiators
present.
1t seems that when the British anbassa-
dor. who took the lead at this conference,
had finished reading the cablegram of Lord
Lansdowne. containing his last proposition
for a 20 and 10 per cen. division of the
customs receipts between the allies and
other claimant nations respectively. Mr..
Bowen at once remarked in an emphatic
tone that the proposition was but another
scheme to trick Venezuela into abetting
an alliance against her for six syears and
probably longer.
Bowen ExpIOdes BOmbshen
He added that he would not consent to
any scheme for continuing the triple alli-
ance one day longer than he was forced TO
do. A diplomat stated afterward: "Of
course it was Mr.. Bowen who exploded the
bombshell the moment it was made"
The charge that Great Britain was en-
deavoring secretly to continue its alliance
with Germany was resented by the British
ambassador, although he showed no ILL
feeling at the conference. He afterward
sent a cablegram to London that he was
displeased with the conduct of Mr.. Bowen
and IL 1t were left to him to decide he
would not continue negotiations with him.
III - ~ a.
diplomatic corps the greatest indignation
that an ambassador from the court Of St.
James should be so treated. On the other
hand. both the Italian ambassador and
German minister have taken occasion to say
several times since the Monday conference
that Mr.. Bowen has treated ale the nego-
tiators with uniform courtesy and surpris-
ing generosity throughout the negotiations,
and only yesterday both OF these diplomats
called and expressed thanks for his consid-
Grafton OF them.
"Mr. Bowen must stand up for Venez-
uela," it was explained. IF he did not he
would forfeit our respect"
Another feature Of the last twenty-four
hours has been the receipt of an exceedingly
tart cablegram from Lord Lansdowne at
the British embassy. The cablegram. it is
stated, went so far as to remind the british
ambassador that he was here to obey or
ders.
Dispute Bowen's Authority.
PARIS, Feb. 6.-The correspondent Of the
Matin at Caracas telegraphs that a
pamphle: is being circulated in that city in
which It is asserted that the powers con-
ferred on Minister Bowen are null because
of an article in the Venezuela constitution
providing that a representative Of Venez-
uela, in such case, must have an authori-
zation in order to serve the public, and the
pamphlet points out that Minister Bowen
has no such authorization. Moreover, &C
cording to the pamphlet, any convention he
may negotiate will be invalid unless 1t is
confirmed by the Venezuelan congress.
Think Offer is ACCOMMODATION.
LONDON, Feb. cit Is o~flcially stated
that the allies offer to submit the method
Of treatment of their claims to arbltra-
tion is a concession which should facili-
tate rather than delay a speedy settlement
of the Venezuelan affairs.
At the German embassy Il is sale that
the blockade should be raised within a
few days.
Emphasis continues to be laid on the
contention that the point the allies now
agree 20 arbitrate is not preferential. bat
separate treatment for their claims.
1t is asserted that Mr. Bowen has made
explanations to Ambassador Herbert which
have removed the friction in that quarter.
ard II is just possible that recourse to
The Hague. or to Mr.. Roosevelt. may be
averted even at the last moment by the
representatives Of the allies coming to an
understanding with Mr.. Bowen himself In
regard to the separate treatment of their
claims.
1t is understood that instructions to this
end have been reiterated from Berlin and
London with the hope of facilitating the
procedure.