The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-06
Decide to Submit Case to 
 Roosevelt. If He Declines to Be Dragged Into the Controversy, It is Determin- ed That the Matter Shall
 Go to The Hague.

Washington, Feb. 5.-Irritated by the sentative. addressed to the British Am bassador on Monday last, refusing to ac- cept the allies proposal for "a scheme of preferential payments by which Great Britain. Germany and Italy were to re- ceive 20 per cent and the remaining creditors 10 per cent of the customs re- ceipts at La Guaira and Puerto Cabello, the allied powers have instructed their representatives here to submit the ques- ton of preferential treatment for settle- ment to President Roosevelt and in the event that he declines to act as arbitrator. to take this and possibly the entire con- troversy to 1ae Hague for settlement thereby breaking of negotiations with MT. Bowen.
 At 10 o'clock tomorrow at the British Embassy there will be conference here of the allies. In view of the fact that the London government is now taking the lead in the negotiations. the British Am bassador will preside at the conference. In the meantime he expects to have an interview with the Secretary of State.
  of the Presidents acceptance of the allies request. If it is found that Presi- dent Roosevelt is not disposed to allow himself to be dragged into the negotia- tions, the instructions of the allies are such as to permit them to forego the embarrassment of a rejection at the hands of MT. Roosevelt and instead of making known their wishes to him steps will be taken to draw up protocol with MT. Bowen for a reference of the case to The Hague as suggested by him in his note of last Monday.
 The British Ambassador was the first of the representatives to receive instruc- tions to this effect, and the matter was discussed at the monday conference be- tween the three representatives of the allies.
 Announcement of the decision of the allies to abandon further negotiations with MT. Bowen has not been received with surprise by the few officials of the Washington government who have been advised of 1t.
 The Hague tribunal said an official of the administration tonight. has all along been kept in sight as a port of safety in case the negotiations here were not productive of final settlement, and as for the suggestion that the President act as arbitrator. that was the favorite idea of the allies since the beginning of the trouble
 Whether President Roosevelt will ac- cept this invitation of the allies is not known
 An official of the administration ex- pressed surprise tonight that the allies would he willing to submit this question to the President in view of the fact that their representatives within the last few days have informed them by cable that the President views with disfavor the contention of the allies for preferential treatment
 There Is the best authority for the statement that neither Great Britain nor Germany is desirous of submitting their case to The Hague.
 The instructions received by the Brit. ish Ambassador are not quite clear as to the alternative to be pursued in the event that the President declines to act as arbitrator of the question of priority payments. It is not known whether the protocol which nas been drawn up with MT. Bowen will provide for 8. reference of the entire case to The Hague. or whether the allies are willing to stick by