The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-02-15
Correction Of an Error Whereby
Italy Was Given 30 Per Cent. of
the Customs House Receipts.
OFFER FROM MR.. CARNEGIE
WANTED TO PAY GEHMANY's DE-
MAND FOR s360,OOO IN CASH.
Minister Bowen Congratulated by
President Castro and Others-COunt
Quadt to Take a Rest.

WASHINGTON, Feb. H.-Oficial notice
OF the termination of the blockade of the
Venezuelan ports, necessary to terminate
the notice OF blockade conveyed in the
original proclamation, has reached the State
Department in the shape of dispatch re-
ceived to-day from the United States en-
bassy at London stating that the British
Foreign Office had given it out that a
cablegram had been sent this morning
To the British commander in Venezuelan
waters to raise the blockade.
Advices from Berlin say the German
government also has telegraphed instruc-
fions for raising the blockade. These in
structions probably did not reach all the
blockading vessels to-day, but IL is ex-
pected that the blockade will be fully raised
by tomorrow or Monday. especially since
Commodore Scheder had been expecting
such instructions and had arranged for
their prompt transmission.
In further explanation Of the articles of
the protocols signed last night by Mr..
Bowen and the representatives of the al
lies here the following addendum was pre-
pared and duly signed by all of the nego-
tiators this morning: "Our Interpretation
OF the protocols was and is that the 30 per
receipts of Laguayra and Puerto Cabello
shall begin TO set apart on the first day of
March. 1903. and continue to be set apart
through the said month, and that the first
payment will be due not the first of March.
but .he first OF April. 19O3.''
At conference at the British embassy
this afternoon, which was held at o'clock.
another important addendum was signed
lie T<o
col. BY a curious error this article pro-
vided that the Venezuelan government
"obligate themselves to assign to the Italian
government. commencing the first day of
March, 1s03 for this purpose, and to alien
ate to no other purpose. 30 per cent of the
customs revenues OF Laguayra and Puerto
Cabello." Had this provision stood un-
amended the Italian government would
have been entitled to the entire joint per
cent. instead of sharing II with the other
allies as was intended. Fortunately the
matter was discovered in time to be cor
rected before the protocols were dispatched
to the foreign offices of the allies. Ii
was to clear up this point that the nego-
tiators signed the following agreement this
afternoon:
I'VE interpret our three protocols TO
mean tnat the 80 per cent. referred 10
therein. of the total income of the customs
houses at Laguayra and Puerto Cabello
shall be delivered to the representative
of the Bank of England at Caracas. and
that the said 30 per cent. is not assigned
10 any one power, but is to be retained by
the said representative OF the Bank OF
England In Caracas and paid out by him in
conformity with the decision rendered by
the tribunal at The Hague.
Cablegrams have been pouring in upon
Mr. Bowen from Venezuela congratulating
him upon the success of his mission. The
first to arrive was from President Castro.
Consul De vries cabled Hearty congratu-
lations,' from Maracaibo. Leading Ger
man and British business firms in Vene-
zuela have sent congratulatory cablegrams.
1t Is not expected the next set of proto-
coils providing for reference of the prefer
entail question TO The Hague will be taken
up until the middle OF next week. The
British ambassador is going to New York
for a few days rest, and Mr.. Bowen is
desirous OF comforting with representatives
of the other creditor nations before taking
up the new convention.