The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-02-02
PLAN OF DIVISION OF
VENEZUELAN
FUNDS
One Expected to Be Accept
able to all Interested Ma
tions Has Been Formulate
ed-Deinite Replies Will
Be Presented in a Short
Time

WASHINGTON, D. c., Feb. Il
Propositions involving a compromise
of the allied powers contention for
preferential treatment in the settle
ment of their claims against Venezuela
nave been submitted to the govern
mentS of Great Britain, Germany and
Italy by their representatives at Wash
lngton, and while no answers have
peen received as yet, there is reason
Tor the belief that the allies will see a
way to accept the latest proposition.
This compromise has been suggested
by one of the representatives of the
allies here and while it has not for
mally received the Endorsement of Min
lister Bowen, it is felt that he will not
| enter serious objection to its adop-
ton provided the United States and
the other claimant nations outside the
alliance can be convinced that their
own interests in Venezuela will not be
substantially injured by yielding to a
plan which seems to offer solution of
the present serious hitch in the Wash
ington negotiations.
The details of the proposition now
under consideration by the three al
lied nations are not obtainable, but in
a general way it is understood to be a
Ol the dIleS contention
that they be recognized as Venezuela's
preferred claimants in the payment of
the indemnity.
Plan of Division.
The plan suggested provides that for
a short period; perhaps six months or
| a year, Great Britain, Germany and
Italy shall receive exclusively 80 per
cent of the customs receipts of the
ports of Porto Cabello and La Guaira
and that at the end of this period the
exact length of which is yet open 10
decision, all the claimant nations be
placed on the same footing, and at the
expiration of that time the so per cent
Of the receipts of these two ports be
divided among all the claimant ma
tions in ratio based on the amount of
each nations claim.
The plan is regarded as a compro-
mise which will enable the allies to
withdraw their ships from Venezuelan
waters without a serious loss OF pres
tige.
Whether the claimant nations out
side the tripartite agreement will as
sent to this scheme is not yet known.
The British ambassador called by ap-
pointment on Secretary Hay thiS aft
ernoon at o'clock and it is believed
that some such plan as this was under
discussion, the British ambassador
wishing to acquaint himself with the
exact attitude Of the United States
regarding Lord Lansdowne's conten-
tion for preferential treatment for the
allies. France has it in her power to
continue the present deadlock in the
Washington negotiations. For while
the other unallied claimants have out
standing against Venezuela certain
unadjusted claims, all of the French
claims are in a very forward state.
France Is Hampered.
France contends that, so far from
assisting her in the collection of her
Venezuelan claims, the blockade, if
anything, has hampered her in that it
has closed all the Venezuelan ports to
commerce and has prevented for the
time being the collection of the 13 per
cent of the receipts pledged her by
treaty.
1t is the hope of the representatives
of the allies at Washington that, in
case their governments accept in prin-
ciple the kind Of compromise suggest
ed, they will not insist that the period
for preferential payments be made so
long as to prevent it's acceptance by
the other claimant nations.
Mr.. Bowen has been assured that
the representatives of the allies here
will give him a final answer at the
earnest possible moment. MednJ1met
exchanges are still in progress between
the allied governments and their re-
spective embassies here in the effort
to agree on a plan Of settlement that
will be acceptable at once to Vene-
Zuela and to the octagOnal alliance of
France, Belgium, Spain, Denmark,
Holland, Norway, Sweden and the
United States.
By his evident desire to take up the
negotiations at Washington with all
the speed consistent with prudence
and good form, Baron Won Speck
Sternberg has gained from the Wash
ington officials the same favor that
made him a popular member of the
diplomatic corps here many years ago.
The fact that he asked permission to
waive the customary presentation
ceremonies which ordinarily are for
several days, has convinced Mr. Bow
en-, and incidentally the Washington
government, that Germany wants the
Venezuelan question settled with all
possible dispatch