The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-03
ULTIMATUM
 TO THE ALLIES No Preference Will Be
 Shown. MIR. BOWEN SENDS A NOTE Venezuela Will Not Divide Custom Receipts UneQually. To Do So, It il Said, Would Be violative of Idea That Peace
 full Negotiations are Prefer 1 able to Armed Force.
MIR. BOWEN SENDS A NOTE

Washington, Feb. 2.-HerbGt W. Bowen, venexuela's representative in the at Washington for . settle ment of the claims against that county. has sent through the British Ambassador to Washington what amounts practically to an ultimatum to the allied powers of Great Britain. Germany and Italy re- garding their insistence for preferential treatment in the settlement of their claims against Venezuela
 This note. which the British Embas- sador received shortly before clock to- night. was cabled at once to London. copies of 1t being transmitted to the Italian and German Embassies for trans mission to Rome and Berlin.
 It Is in reply to the proposal submitted at join conference of the negotiators this afternoon by the British Ambassador that the allied powers be allowed two- thirds of 30 per cent of the customs re- ceipts of the ports of La Guaira and Porto Cabello and that the United States and the other claimant nations. France, Belgium. Holland. Denmark. Spain and Norway and Sweden content themselves with the remaining one-third of this per ceutage. that is. ten percent Of the of these two ports.
 A Point Blank Refusal.
 In the note received by the British Ambassador from MT. Bowen.touight. the latter refuses point blank the proposal for a 20 and 10 per cent division on the ground that to recognize the principle 1t embodies would be absolutely offensive to modern civilization.
 In view of the fact that the negotiators are agreed on all save the question of preferential treatment. the Ambassador is informed that Venezuela has decided to submit that question to The Hague arbitration tribunal. The acceptance of this proposal, Venezuela contends. carried with 1t a raising of the blockade the general understanding being that the blockade would end when the negotiators at Washington had reached an agreement.
 It is understood that in refusing this last proposal submitted by the British Ambassador on behalf of the allies. MT. Bowen takes the ground that he cannot accept in principle the contention that blockades and bomSardments of forts and the consequent killing of helpless men. women and children. entities any power or alliance of powers to preferen- tial treatment at the hands of a civilized nation. It Is asserted that should the peace powers and the blockading powers agree to such a principle they would in- corporate in the law of nations a depart ure in conflict with the tenets of all modern day ethics.
 Demands objectable.
 Moreover, Venezuela, it is said, regards the preferential demand of the powers as objectionable, because 1t would enable the continuance of the triple alliance of Great Britain. Germany and Italy for n period of six years or more and in &C., cepting 1t, Venezuela would be encourag- ing and abetting the maintenance of his- tile alliances against herself. The British Ambassador is informed in the note that Americans, north and south. want peace and not alliances.
 Venezuela has taken special exception to the action of the British Government in initiating this last proposal by which Great Britain can hold fast to Germany and Italy in their alliance against Vene- zuela until the last cent of the claim is paid. The prediction is made in her re- sponse that surprise and regret of the keenest sort will be felt throughout the AHleflCdS Wueu IL j5 hnOWu that Great Britain has even proposed continuing her present alliance with Germany and Italy one moment longer than is necessary, particularly in view of her previous rep resentations to the effect that she was anxious to end the Venezuelan dispute and call off the alliance at the earliest possible time.
 In suggesting that the question of pref erential treatment be referred to The Hague, 1t is understood that MT. Bowen does so in view of the fact that the ques- ton Is the only one which remains in dispote.
 The allies are advised that Venezuela Is desirous that all the negotiations shall stand by what has been agreed upon.
 The Briaish Ambassador declined to- night to make public the text of the note addressed to him 1t is in reality a note to the allied powers. but 1t became known that 1t was along the lines here set forth and concluded with an appeal for justice to The Hague tribunal regarding the con- tention of the allies for preferential treat ment and an ssertion that such action carried with 1t the raising of the block ade. Some significance may attach to the note in view of the fact that before dis patching 1t to the British Embassy Mir. Bowen was in conference with Secretary Hay.
 Whether the allies will accept as final what MT. Bowen has had to say or will assume a conciliatory attitude and ask, as has been suggested both by MT. Bowen and the representatives of the allies in Washington. for preferential treatment for limited period, no one in Washing ton feels competent to predict. The posi- ton taken by MT. Bowen, 1t is said, has received the endorsement of all the un- allied claimant nations. in which number Is included the United States.
 At the joint conference this afternoon, which occurred at 5 o'clock, besides MT. Bowen ,the Italian and British Ambas- sadors and the German Minister, there was present Count Quadt. First Secre- tary of the German Embassy. who, until the arrival of Baron von Sternberf, con- ducted with activity and Judgment the negotiationes on behalf of his govern ment.