The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-20
willing to Advance Fifty Millions to
Pay the Claims of the Allied
and Other Powers.
PLAN OPPOSED BY BOWEN
EFFORT BY THE SELIGMANS TO
GAIN THE PRESIDENTS AID.
Desire the Appointment Of an Amer
lean to Act as Agent for the
Syndicate at Caracas.

WASHINGTON, March 19.-Another i'm
portant chapter in the Venezuelan contro-
versy developed tonight. Impelled by the
persistent reports which have been circu-
lated that there might be a disposition on
the part of the allied powers to settle d.
rectly with President Castro the question
of the payments of the claims of their citi-
zens against Venezuela, coupled with the
exasperating delay in settling the addi-
tional protocols with him. Herbert w. Bow
en-, Venezuelan plenipotentiary, has made
an effort to obtain positive information
from the allies to their intentions in the
premises. With this purpose in view he ad-
dressed to Sir Michael Herbert, the British
ambassador at Washington, a polite note
calling attention to the delay of about
month and to the rumors that have been
current that the powers are not disposed to
send the question of preferential treatment
to The Hague. Mr.. Bowen urged it as de-
sirable that some declarations should be
made by the allies as to what they will do.
According to the terms of the protocol
signed by Mr.. Bowen with Germany, Great
Britain and Italy on Feb. 13, 30 per- cent.
of the customs receipts of the ports of
Laguayra and Puerto Cabello were to be
paid over to the representative Of the Bank
of England at Caracas for the satisfaction
of the claims against Venezuela pending
the decision of The Hague tribunal, and
the customs receipts were to be paid out in
accordance with the decision of that trib-
unal on the question of preferential treat
ment. The first allotment of customs re-
ceipts was to be paid on the 1st of April.
covering the receipts for the month OF
March, AS this time is near at hand, and
there does not seem to be any disposition
on the part of the allies to proceed with
any dispatch with the preparation of The
Hague protocols, Mr.. Bowen does not think
that Venezuela should be bound to pay the
80 per cent. provided for in the protocol OF
Feb. Is If The Hague protocol is not signed
before April 1, and he took this position in
the note to Sir Michael Herbert.
Mr.. Bowen feels there should be definite
understanding respecting the intentions of
the allies as to The Hague protocol before
the 1st of April, when the initial INSTALL
ment of customs receipts of the two ports
are to be set aside as provided for. Vene-
zuela has provided a means for meeting
the issue in case of default by consenting
charge of the customs. and the purposes Of
the allies, he thinks, should be stated def
initely. If The Hague protocols were not
signed and the allies determined hereafter
to deal directly with Castro then the ques-
tion would arise as to what should be done
with the money paid to the representative
of the Bank of England on April l from
named. The suggestion is made that that
official, being in the employ of the British
government, the money might be retained
by him TO satisfy the claims of Great
Britain, and in this way they would secure
an advantage over, other equally meritor-
ious claimants
The note of Mr.. Bowen it is believed here,
will bring the whole question to an issue
promptly and terminate the indecision
which now apparently obtains as to just
what the intentions OF the various allied
their claims.