Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-29
THE ALLIES STUBBORN
They Insist Upon Preferential
Treatment.
A ROCK IN THE WAY
PAUSE IN TEE vENEZUELAN
NEGOTIATIONS
Demands Exceed the Concessions That
Minister Bowen is Expect
ed to Make.
A. ROCK IN THE WAY

There was q pause In the Venezuelan
negotiations today that approached peril
ousy near breach, and the end is not yet
in sight. 1t all grows out OF the attitude
Of the allies in insisting upon preferential
treatment for themselves in the settlement
Of their claims. AS foreshadowed in the
London dispatches, Mr.. Bowen has been
informed Of the decision Of the allies to-
insist upon adhering to that claim. and he
has come to a stand In his work for the
moment. For half an hour he was in con-
sultation with Secretary Hay at the State
Department today. but. of course, the Sec
rotary is taking no part in the negotiations
in any official sense.
Therefore Mr.. Bowen Is believed to have
taken steps to acquaint President Castro
with the demands of the allies, sure sign
that these demands exceed, in spirit, at
least, the concessions that Mr.. Bowen ex-
pected to make. Possibly fresh and en-
larged powers will be necessary to enable
him to meet the demands.
Between Two Fires.
Venezuela's plight at this moment lies In
the fact that she is between two fires. The
allies demand preferential treatment, while
France and other creditors look to Vene-
zuela for fair treatment, pointing out that
to discriminate against their claims when
their attitude had been correct and even
magnanimous would not be fair treatment.
high official commenting upon the sftua-
ton remarked that the attitude Of the al
lies was absolutely inexplicable, and their
conduct short-stghted in this: That having
by their harsh treatment solidif1ed all of
the countries of Latin-America against
them, with the result of completely blight
Ing their future trade prospects in that
quarter, they were now proceeding to So
Hdify all the rest of Europe in like manner
against themselves by their selfshness.
Two Courses Open.
Two courses are open now to Mr.. Bowen,
and 1t will probably be for President Castro
to elect which he shall follow. He may in
his response to the claimant nations other
than the allies take the opportunity to in
form the world that Venezuela yields to
overpowering force and that If she cannot
meet their claims they must reckon with
the allies themselves. The other course is
for Mr.. Bowen to declare that his mission
has failed. that he cannot come to rea
sonable understanding with the allies be-
cause OF their incorporating attitude,
and therefore the case must go to The
Hague tribunal for adjustment.
Senior Ojeda, the Spanish minister, called
on Minister Bowen this morning and pre-
scented the formal thanks Of the Madrid
government for the courtesy and kindness
shown the Spanish subjects in Venezuela
during the present troubles and for his safe
guarding Of their interests.
Count Quadt. the German charge, was
the only representative of the allies to see
Mr.. Bowen this morning. He afterward
was in conference with Sir Michael Herbert,
the British ambassador. He was later at
the State Department, where he introduced
the new military attache to Secretary Hay.
The Venezuelan matter was alluded to and
the department was informed of the latest
report from Berlin regarding the Panther
episode.
A Notifying Reception.
The atfitIda of hn tot ixync Off ho
allies is decidedly embarrassing. Their joint
note to their foreign offices yesterday noon,
urging acceptance Of Minister Bowens
proposition was a personal Endorsement of
the entire course Of the minister. The ig-
noring of their Endorsement and appeal by
their governments Is naturally Notifying.
NJ. Pierre de Margerie, the French charge
d 'Afaires, talked over the Venezuelan cri-
sis with Secretary Hay this morning,
though he came to the department prmari-
ly to announce the willingness of his gov
eminent to negotiate a post and parcels
treaty.
Effect on Legislation.
The Venezuelan situation, and especially
the attitude Of Germany. was discussed by
the Senate committee on military affairs to-
Cay. and the situation Influenced the COM
mittee on some matters pertaining to the
army appropriation bill, among which was
the OeClSIUH " dCCepI tuS I1OuSe pIOVISlOH
relating to transports. SO that they would
be retained in the service.
The committee also provided for an In
crease of electricians, skilled gunners, ma
chinists and sergeants and Others who
take care Of and handle guns in the sea-
coast defenses.
No Bluffs to Be Allowed.
Some other additions were made in the
bill with view Of improving the service.
The discussion was general and earnest and
the conclusion reached, as stated by a mem
Der Of the committee, was that the United
States should make 1t plain that the honor
and dignity Of the country would be main
tanned and that Germany should not be
allowed to "bluff' the government by any
attitude she might assume.
ALLIES REJECT PROPOSAL.