Arizona republican., 1903-02-03

Washington. February 2.-Herbert w. Bowen, Venezuela's representative in the negotiations at Washington for the settlement of the claims against that country has sent through the Brit ish ambassador here what amounts practically to an ultimaum to the allied powers of Great Britain, Ger many and Italy, regarding their insist anoe for preferential treatment in the settlement of their claims against Venezuela.
 This note, which the British ambas- sador received shortly before nine g o'clock tonight was cabled at once to London. copies of it being trans mitted to the Italian and German em- bassies for transmission to Rome, Lon don and Berlin. in reply to the proposi- tion submitted at the joint conference of negotiations this afternoon by the
 British ambassador. urging that the allied powers be allowed two-thirds of thirty per cent of the customs receipts of the ports of La Guayra and Porto CabeIlo and that the United States and other claimant nations, France. Belgium. Holland, Denmark. Spain, Norway and Sweden .content them selves with the remaining one-third O. this percentage. that is 10 per cent of the receipts of these two ports.
 In the note received by the British ambassador from Mir Bowen tonight
 the latter refuses point blank the proposition for a twenty and ten per cent division on the ground that to recognize the principle it embodics would be absolutely offensive to mod ern civilization.
 In view of the fact that the negotia- tors are agreed on all save the question of preferential treatment. the ambas- sador is informed that Venezuela has decided to submit that question to The Hague Arbitration tribunal. The ac- lCeptance of this proposition, Venezu- ella contends, carries with it the rais- | ing of the blockade. the general under standing being that the blockade would end when the regotiatoIs at Washington had reached an agree men-.
 1 It is understood that in refusing this 1 last proposition submitted by the | British ambassador on behalf of the allies. Mr. Bowen takes the ground ] contention that the blockade and the 1 Eombardment of the forts and the con sequent killing of helpless men, women and children entitle any power or ali anoe of powers to preferential treat ment at the hands of civilized nations. 1t is claimed that should the peace powers and blockading powers agree
 to such principle they would incorpor- in, ha 1axr ne IF -tr.in irl conflict with the tenets of all modern day ethics.
 | Moreover. Venezuela, it is stated. re- gards the preferential demand of the powers as objectionable because it would enable the continuance of the l triple alliance of Great Britain. Ger
 many and Italy for a period O. six years or more and in accepting it l Venezuela would be encouraging and Iabetting the maintaineace of hostile alliances against herself. The British
 ambassador is informed in the note
 that Americans, north and south, want l peace and not alliance.
 1 Venezuela has taken special eXcep-
 ton to the action of the British gov
 ernmept in initiating this last prcposi-
 ton by which Great Britain can hold
 fast Germany and Italy in their alli-
 ance against Venezuela until the last cent of the claim is paid.
 The prediction is made in her re- sponse that surprise and regret of the
 keenest sort will be felt throughout
 the Americas when it is known that Great Britain has even proposed the continuing of her present alliance with Germany and Italy one moment long
 CT than necessary. particularly in view
 of her previous representations to the effect that she was anxious to end the