Oxford eagle., 1903-02-12
BOWEN AND THE british.
The British Ambassador Doesn't Like
Mr.. Bowen's Straightforward
Diplomacy.
WOULD BREAK NEGOTIATIONS WITH HIM.
The German and Italian Negotla-
tors Satisfied With MIR. Bowen's
Course, and Mr.. Herbert Has Been
Reminded, From London. That He
il to Obey Orders.

Washington, Feb. 7.-Confrmation
of the London dispatch of Thursday
to the effect that Mr.. Bowen and the
British ambassador, at their inter-
view Monday, had q somewhat heated
argument was obtained here Friday
Indeed, it il stated that should the
character of the cablegrams that tho
British ambassador has been sending
to his government regarding the at
titude of Minister Bowen become
public, the country would be fur
nished with sensational diplomatic in
cidents. 1t is the opinion OF the
enezuelan negotiators, other than
the British ambassador, that the lat
ter is directly responsible for the
abrupt breaking off of negotiations
with Mr.. Bowen.
Official Opinion.
1t is the opinion in official circles
here that Minister Bowen has an alb
solute right, acting for Venezuela OF
course, to object to President Roose-
Welt acting as arbitrator. To do SO
would cause pain to Mr.. Bowen, whose
admiration for Mr.. Roosevelt is well
known, but he feels obliged to keep
we'll in mind the fact that he is here,
not as an American, but as a repre-
sentative of Venezuela. The British
ambassadors conduct has resulted in
several important details OF the mo-
mentous conference of Monday last
leaking out, and these are now sub
stantiated by the other negotiators
present. 1t seems that when the Brit
ish ambassador, who took the lead at
this conference, had finished reading
the cablegram of Lord Lansdowne
containing his last proposition for
20 and 10 per cent. division OF the
customs receipts of Porto Cabello and
LaGuayra between the allies and the
other claim nations, respectively, Mr..
Bowen at once remarked in an en-
phatic tone that the proposition was
but another scheme to trick Vene-
zuela into abetting an alliance against
her for six years and probably long
er. He added that he would not con-
sent to any scheme for continuing the
triple alliance one day longer than
he was forced to.
Bowers Bombshell.
A diplomat stated afterwards: ut
was Mr.. Bowen who exploded the
bombshell the moment the PROPOSE
tion was made" Charges that Great
Britain was endeavoring, secretly, to
continue her alliance with Germany
was resented by the British ambassa-
dor, though he showed no i'll feeling
at the conference. After the confer
ence, it is said, he sent a cablegram
to London, stating that he was dis
pleased with the conduct of Mr.. Bow
en-, and if it were left to him to de-
eide he would not continue negotia-
tions with him. He expressed to his
conferees of the diplomatic corps the
greatest Indignation that an ambas-
sador from the court of St. James
should be so treated.
The others Are Satisfied.
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 all the
negotiators with uniform courtesy
and surprising generosity throughout
the negotiations, and only Thursday
both of these diplomats called and ex-
pressed thanks for his consideration
of them. Mr.. Bowen must stand up
for Venezuela" it was explained, II
he did not he would forfeit our re-
spect. Another feature of the last "a
hours has been the receipt of an ex-
ceedingly tart cablegram from Lord
Lansdowne at the British embassy.
The cable, it is stated, went SO far as
to remind the British ambassador that
he was here to obey orders.