New-York tribune., 1903-01-30
NAY GO TO THE H4GUE.
Deadlock on the Question Of Prefer
eufiaL CLAIMS.
TBv TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSE.l J

,,-.i,,+o, Ian oQ-At midnight no reply
-. the nronositions formulated by Minister
Bowen and the representatives OF the aIles hao
been received. The situation remains In eXactly
the same status that It has been in since the
action Of the ambassadors yesterday in trans
hitting 10 their respective governments en-
rbatic and unqualified Endorsement of the
scheme presented by Minister Bowen in behalf
of Venezuela The later message, sent early
this morning contained, it is understood on the
highest authority, no essential modification OF
Minister Bowen's original refusal TO accord 10
The allies preferential standing for their claims
Tie important development to-day is the atti-
tude Of the other claimant nations and their
f-sisrence that their claims shall receive equal
treatment with those Of the allies who resorted
TO warlize measures TO enforce their demands
II is the position of these nations. and they
include all the littoral countries Of Europe, as
we'll as the United States. which furnishes the
e+ronees+ s11prort to the representatives, Of the
allies in accepting Mr.. Bowen's proposals
There is also the influence they exert against
a reference TO The Hague. For if the mat
ter once reaches The Hague, then all nations
Will come in alike, and the treatment of the
allies is likely to be far less favora bic to them
selves than what Minister Bowen offers them
II addition TO the fact that all claims would
fare alike in this court, there is the additional
ezuela- for losses incident to the blockade would
be presented.
There is no reason at present to regard the
situation as grave. The representatives of the
allies here have expressed their satisfaction with
Mr.. Bowens offer. The objections raised sub
eeauently have been met. If the explanation
proves unsatisfactory then the home govern
rnents will have taken position which is di-
rectly opposite to that of their representatives
on the spot and will bring all the other claimant
nations into the field. There is disposition TO
attribute portion of the cause for the delay
10 the fact that the Germans anxious to
have Baron Won Sternburg on the spot when
the final arrangement is made, but it is gener-
ally believed tonight that the objections pre-
sented subsequent TO the expression Of approval
on the part Of the representatives here origi-
mated in London and not in Berlin.
There have been no important conferences to-
day Count Won Quadt saw Minister Bowen this
morning and Minister Bowen saw Secretary
Hay but no definite message has arrived. The
report that Minister Bowen had communicated
with President Castro for additional power was
learned on the highest authority to be untrue
Full power was accorded TO Mr.. Bowen before
he started on the mission to this country. He
is authorized 10 take any step he may choose,
and his communications to President Castro are
in the nature Of information concerning the
progress OF the negotiations only
The situation. however, has not improved. AT
the outset the allies showed the greatest readi-
ness TO accept the propositions made by Mr.
Bowen Since then they have raised new points
New complications in the shape Of the position
Of the other claimant nations have also come
up. and the possibility Of a reference TO The
Hague has materially increased. but at the same
time the measures for settlement here have not
yet been exhausted. A reply from the allies to-
morrow is generally expected Tonight the
status quo OF last night is practically main
tanned