The Irish standard., 1903-02-14

and Germany, has been discovered. The
treaty was made without the knowl-
edge of Great Britain, and Sir Michael
Herbert, the British ambassador, only
learned of it's existence late Saturday
afternoon. Its discovery at this late
hour cannot affect the settlement of
the Venezuelan affair. 1t will serve,
however, to put all of the negotiators
more closely on their guard in the
drafting of the protocols, which they
hope to submit to Minister Bowen dur
ing the next few days.
The British protocol provides for the
reference of the contention of the al
lies for preferential treatment to The
Hague for settlement, for the payment
by Venezuela to Great Britain $500
cash and for the immediate raising
of the blockade. The matter of the
adjudication of the claims and the col
lection of the 80 per cent, out of which
they are to be paid, has been left for
the second protocol.
Bowen Accepts.
Washington, Feb. 11.-Great Brit
aims protocol has been formally &C.
cepted by Mr.. Bowen for Venezuela.
The German and Italian conventions
are still undergoing revision, but assur-
ances are given in authoritative quar-
tiers that they eventually will be made
to conform in all essential respects to
that of the British ambassador. Owing
to the illness of the British ambassa-
dor, Mr.. Bowen called at the embassy
to-day and personally signified his ap-
proval OF the agreement to the ambas-
sador. He then presented his formal
note OF acceptance and it has been
cabled to the London foreign Office.
Due to ding.
1t appears that the insertion in the
German protocol of the provision for
advance payment of the original
$4,000 demanded of President Cas-
tro in the German ultimatum was the
result Of misunderstanding on the
part of the German foreign office Of
certain steps in the negotiations
here. Through the activity of the
German minister, Baron Spec Won
Sternberg, this point is being cleared
up.
The italian ambassadors instruc.
tions are such that he can make lit
tie Roadway until he knows what is
contained in the German protocol.
He, however, made a rough draught
of his convention, and it will take
only short while after the compile
ton of the German convention for
signor Mayor des Planches to put
the finishing touches to his protocol.
Bowen IL Hopeful.
Mr.. Bowen has done everything
possible to conclude the negotiations
with dispatch in order that the
blockade might be raised, and he ex-
pressed his belief that he was re-
ceiving in this effort the sincere sup
port of all the negotiators. If Sc
rious hitch shall occur at the elev-
enth hour Mr.. Bowen is confident
that It will be through no fault of
any one of the representatives of the
allies here. Should the protocols Of
Germany and Italy when presented
to him contain provisions not in line
with those of the British, the nego-
tions must be prolonged until a
satisfactory arrangement can be
reached.
Bowen Handling Task Alone.
Again it is stated on the highest
authority that the United States
government is absolutely free from
participation in the negotiations.
Mr.. Bowen is working out this
great problem alone SO far as his
own side is concerned, but notwith-
standing he is opposed by three ex-
ceedingly capable diplomatists here,
backed by strong foreign offices at
their homes, it is still believed that
he will succeed in making terms
honorable and satisfactory to Vene-
zuela, if he is not crossed by some
influences in Caracas.