Gilpin observer., 1903-02-05
..BOWEN'S ULAAMATUlI
REFUSES ALLIES LATEST PRO-
(, PosAL FOR SETTLEMENT.
Claims Acceptance Of Proposition Car.
rles With It Raising Of Blockade.
Position Taken by Venezuela Is
Countenanced by Other Claimants.


Washington, Feb. 3.-Herbert w.
Bowen, Venezuela's representative Mt
the negotiations at Washington for q
settlement of the claims against that
country, has sent through the British
ambassador here what practically
amounts to an ultimatum to Great
Britain, Germany and Italy regarding
their insistence for preferential treat
ment in their claims. This note
was cabled at once to London. copies
OF it being transmitted to the Italian
and German embassies for transmits
sion to Rome and Berlin. 1t is in re-
ply to the proposition submitted at n
conference Of the negotiators yester-
day afternoon by the British ambassa-
dor urging that the allied powers be
allowed two-thrds of 30 per cent OF
the customs receipts of the ports OF
LaGuayra and Puerto Cabello. and
that the United States and the other
claimant nations, France, Belgium,
Holland, Denmark, Spain and Sweden,
content themselves with the remain
ing one-third of this percentage, that
is 10 per cent of the receipts of these
two ports.
In the note received by the British
ambassador from Mr.. Bowen the latter
refuses point blank the proposal for
a 20 and 10 per cent division. on the
ground that to recognize the principle
It embodies would be offensive to mod
ern civilization. In view Of the fact
that the negotiators are agreed on all
save the preferential treatment. the
ambassador Is informed that vene-
xuela has decided to submit that ques-
tion to The Hague arbitration tribunal.
The acceptance of this. he contends.
carries with it raising of the block
ade. the general understanding being
that the blockade would end when the
negotiators at Washington had
reached an agreement. 1t is under
stood that in refusing this last propo-
sidon submitted by the British am
bassador on behalf of the allies. Mr..
Bowen takes the ground that he can
not sustain the contention that block
ades and bombardment of forts and
the consequent killing of helpless men.
women and children. entities any pow
er or alliance of powers to preferential
treatment as civilized nations.
II is claimed that should the peace
powers and the bloekading powers
agree to such a principle they would
Incorporate in the law of nations
doctrine in conflict with the tenets OF
all modern day ethics. Moreover,
Venezuela, It is stated. regards the
preferential demand of the powers as
Objectionable because 1t would enable
the continuance Of the triple alliance
Of Great Britain. Germany and Italy
for a period Of six years or more. and
in accepting It Venezuela would be
encouraging and abetting the main
tenance OF hostile alliances against
herself The British ambassador II
informed in the note that Americans,
north and south, want peace and not
alliances.
Venezuela has taken special excep-
tion to the action of the British gov
ernment in initiating this last propo-
sition. by which Great Britain can
hold fast to Germany and Italy in
their alliance against Venezuela until
the last cent of the claim is paid. The
prediction Is made in her response
sort will be felt throughout the Amer
icas when It is known that Great
Britain has even proposed continuing
her present alliance with Germany
and Italy one moment longer than is
necessary. particularly In view Of her
previous representations to the effect
that she was anxious to end the Vene-
xuelan dispute and call OF the alliance
at the earliest possible time. In sug-
gesting that the question Of preferen-
tial payment be referred to The
Hague. II is understood that Mr.. Bow
en- does so in view of the fact that
the question Is the only one that re-
mains in dispute.
The British ambassador declined to
make public the note addressed to
him. as It is in reality note to the
allied powers. but II became known
that It was along the lines here set
forth and concluded with an appeal for
Justice to The Hague tribunal regard.
ing the contention OF the allies for
preferential payment. and the conten-
tion that such action carried with II
the raising Of the blockade. Some
Significance may attach to the note In
view Of the fact that before dispatch.
ing II to the British embassy Mr.. Bow
en- was in conference with Secretary
Hay Whether the allies will accept
as final what Mr.. Bowen has had to
say. or will assume q conciliatorv at.
Mtude Rrd ask. as has been suggested
both by Mr. Bowen and the representa-.
tlves Of the allies in this city. for a
preferential treatment for limited
period no one in Wash'nston feels
competent 10 predict. The position
taken by Mr.. Bowen. Il II stated. has
received the endorsement OF all the mn.
allied claimant nations. IN which