Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-02
Indications Regarding the
Attitude of the Allies.
ACTIVITY OF FRANCE
has HAD ITS INFLUENCE IN
VENEZUELAN NEGOTIATIONS.
Castro Cables That He Wants All
Claimant Nations Accorded the
Same Treatment.

Minister Bowen is willing that the allied
powers shall receive preferential payments
of their claims against Venezuela for the
period of one month provided they accept
the remainder of his proposition and agree
to the immediate lifting of the blockade.
Indeed, he so informed the representatives
of the allies here several days ago. but has
not yet received an answer. This import
ant fact was developed today by the an
nouncement from another quarter that the
allies might be induced to modify their de-
mand that they be paid before the other
claimant nations. to the extent of content
ing themselves with preferential treatment
for six months or perhaps a year. There is
no indication as yet that they Will consent
to cutting this time to a month, as has been
suggested by Mr.. Bowen, but owing to the
activity which France and the other claim
ant nations are showing regarding the pro-
lection of their interests in Venezuela it will
not surprise the officials here II the allies
yield on that point.
President Castro's Message.
The situation is somewhat complicated
by the action of President Castro in ca
bling to Washington that he desires that all
the claimant nations be accorded the same
treatment. This message from President
Castro was received in Washington yester-
day just as indicated in the advces from
Caracas and Mr.. Bowen will at once ac-
quaint the allies with its purport.
The Attitude of the Powers.
France has it in her power to continue
the present deadlock in the Washington
negotiations. For while the other unallied
claimants have outstanding against Ven-
ezuela certain unadjusted claims. all Of the
II.
France contends that so far from assisting
her In the collection of her Venezuelan
claims. the blockade, if anything, has
hampered her, in that it has closed all the
Venezuelan ports to commerce and has
prevented for the time being the collection
OF the 13 per cent of the receipts pledged
her by treaty. 1t is the hope of the repre-
sentatives of the allies here that in case
their governments accept in principle the
kind of compromise suggested they will
not insist that the period for preferential
payments be made so long as to prevent
Its acceptance by the other claimant ma
tions. Mr.. Bowen has been assured that
the representatives of the allies here will
give him final answer at the earliest pos
sible moment. Meantime, exchanges are
still in progress between the allied govern
ments and their respective emba ssies here
In the effort to agree on a plan of settle
ment that will be acceptable at once to
Venezuela and TO the alliance of France
Belgium, Spain, Denmark, Holland Nor
way, Sweden and the United States.
No Result for Two Days.
LONDON, February 2-The answer Of
Venezuela to the rejection by the allied
powers of her proposal to treat on an equal
ity the claims of all nations, without giving
the allies preference, has not yet been re-
cefved, nor has any definite counter pro-
posal been made. 1t is not expected here
that the negotiations looking to a compro-
mise, which are now going on in Washing
ton, will reach a head for at least two days