The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-01-27

| <ASboSioSO1 Press correspondent has just received communication from the British naval of- 1eer at LaGuayra. informing him that the blockade will be raised on Wednes- day.
 Washington. January 26.-There is no 1 information in Washington to justify the positive statement contained in the Car aeas dispatch that the Venezuelan block ade will be raised on wecnesday. Minis ter Bowen continues hopeful that such happy consummation will result from the pending negotiations. as the latest l proposition he has made to the allied gov 1 ernments Is regarded by him as an emil nently fair one. He Is still awaiting for nal replies to that proposition from Great Britain and Germany. and upon these will depend the question whether the blockade is to be raised
 As indicated In the Rome dispatch re- ceived by the Associated Press tonight. the question now to be determined Is the amount of the custom receipts which are to be given a guarantee. Great Britain is believed to be favorable to accepting the 30 per cent offered by Minister Bowen. while Germany is supposed 10 be insist l Ing on 50 per cent. Minister Bowen de- clines to discuss the question in any of it's phases. nor will he disclose what is the actual amount of the guarantee he has offered.
 With the promptitude which has char acterzed all It's action In the present emergency, the Italian government has l cabled to its fleet commander in vene- zuelan waters to withdraw from the blockade as soon as the ships of the other powers do so. Information to this effect was received by the Italian am bassador here today.
 No Formal Notice.
 Up to the close of the day formal no- tice of the acceptance of the proposition had not come to Minister Bowen from ths representatives of the allies here. How ever such unofficial information as reach ed Mir. Bowen confirmed him in the be- lief that the pending controversy would be settled 'soon and satisfactorily It Is learned that the Italian government all along has favored an honorable con- promise and has let It's allies know the favor with which it received the Bowen proposition, while protesting a wiling ness to defer to their views In the mat ter. It developed today that the propor- ton of the customs duties collected at LaGuayra and Port Cabello to be paid to the allies is 30 per cent
 An International Commission. | Berlin, January 26.-A question which | is being considered is whether the allies shall establish an international comms- sion for receiving the customs, or wheth- CT some neutral agent shall be appointed receiver If the latter course is decided upon 1t Is believed that some American | authority will be chosen, perhaps Mir. l Bowen.
 The proposal contemplates dividing the allies claims into three grades ana that each be treated separately and in pro- portion to their validity. It Is still be- l lieved here that all the matters in dis 1 pute will be satisfactorily arranged at Washington without resorting to The ] Hague arbitration court.
 Only a portion of the Venezuelan rev. enues will be available for the payment of the claims because of the large part already hypotheeated as security for for | eign loans.
 The German foreign office is very hope 1 ful of an early settlement, and the rais- ing of the blockade without much fur l ther delay
 Italy Ready to Accept. Rome, January 26.-The Italian govern 1 ment is ready to accept the proposition of United States Minister Bowen to set apart a certain percentage of the customs receipts of LaGuayra and Puerto Cabello | as a guarantee for the payment of the ] foreign claims. The government considers | that the guarantees offered by Venezuela through Minister Bowen are sufficient to warrant the raising of the blockade, which l 1t IS understood here will cease as soon as Germany agrees to the proposals The foreign warships, however, will remain In | Venezuelan waters.