The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-01-21
J. s. Minister Anxious to Have
 Venezuelan Blockade Raised
IS MAN OF GREAT ENERGY
His Work as a Diplomat Is Praised by Officials at State Department. Not Ready to Announce
 Plans.

Washington, January 2o.-United states Minister Bowen, accompanied by Mrs' Bowen, reached here shortly after noon from Charleston, the train being hVe hours late. They drove at once 10 the Arlington hotel and after luncheon Min ister Bowen called at the state depart ment where he had long conference with Assistant Secretary Hill He then proceeded to Secretary Hays home to re- port his arrival Until 1 have reported to the officials here" said Minister Bow en, "of course it will be impossible fF | me to discuss my mission or to announce any programme for the conduct of nego- tlations. 1 have not seen a paper in five days and therefore am not posted on any developments since l left Caracas, so for the present 1 cannot say just when my conferences with the representatives of the powers will begin.
 MT. Bowen received a hearty welcome from the officials at the state department to whom his tactful conduct of affairs at Caracas has given the greatest satis- faction. Assistant Secretary Hill and Second Assistant Secretary Adee con- graduated him on the diplomatic ability he has shown.
 Man of Great Energy.
 Mir Bowen is a man of great energy and has undertaken the important and delicate duties connected with the set tlement of the Venezuelan difficulty with an earnest desire to discharge them with the greatest degree of speed consistent with safety. It is expected that the representatives of the allies who so far as known are sincerely desirous of ter minating the unfortunate situation on the Venezuelan coast, will lend him every aid in his task.
 There must be frequent exchanges be- tween ambassadors here and the home governments, but 1t is fully expected that frequent recourse will be had to thes Att lantic cables. and that this newer method of diplomatic exchange in large part will take the place formerly occupied by the mail exchanges MT. Bowen, as soon as he had shaken the dust of travel from his clothes and had paid a visit or cere- mony to Secretary Hay, started out tc call on the British and Italian ambassa- dors and at the German embassy, where in the absence of Count Quadt he saw Baron Ritter, the acting charge d'affaires
 Anxious to Stop Blockade.
 MT Bowen, above all things, is anxiou. to secure the removal of the blockade l That Is the heaviest charge laid on hin by President Castro.
 So when he called on the representa- lives of the allies here, he urgently re Quested them to name an early momen for the beginning of the negotiations The results of his requests have not ye developed, but 1t Is hoped that MT Bowen will receive answers in the course of a day or two. The absence of Baror von Speck Sternberg and Count Quadt the charge of the German embassy, whC Is in New York in the opinion of tho ether allies need not prevent the initia ton of negotiations with MT. Bowen. II fact, 1t Is not really certain that there will be a joint meeting of the negotiator: at any stage. MT. Bowen Is not clear him. self on this point, and if the allies repre-. sentatives here prefer to discuss their is sues separately. he Is perfectly willing they should do so
 It is expected that the Italian and Brit | ish ambassadors and the German charg, will return the calls of Minister Bower tomorrow, when they will take occasion to present the formal thanks of their gov. ernments for his success in caring fol the foreign interests in Venezuela throughout the troublesome period there Minister Bowen was not prepared tt say tonight just when his actual work O. negotiating with the representatives O the allies here for the settlement of tn, matters in dispute would begin. He rather intimated that this might depend on tn, return from New York of Count Quadt the German charge d'affaires, who 1. fully acquainted with the attitude of hi. government on the question at issue
 MT. Bowen called at the White Hous, during the afternoon, but the Presiden was not in his office at the time. He re fused tonight to discuss any phase of tn, Venezuelan embroglio with the represen tatives of the press.