Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-01-29
THE BLOCKADE
Of Venezuelan Ports Will Prob
ably Soon Be Raised.
The Allies Representatives and Min
lister Bowen Have Conference.
Hoped that the unpIeasantness wm
Soon Be Settled. II AefsSA'' ~

Washington, jan z5.---Vtl liEr Dlllie'tii,
and German ambassadors, and count
Quadt, the German charge, d'affaires'
called on Mr.. Bowen, Venezuela,s rep
resentative in the negotiations, LOOKING
to = raising of the blockade and a set
Element of the claims against Vene-
zuela, about 1880 o'clock, "Wednesday
night. The conference was by appoint
ment and at the request of the repre-
sentatives of the allies. 1t is believed
that the purpose was to present the
claims of the allies to preferential
treatment in payments over those ma
lions which have not exerted physical
pressure on Venezuela, but it was i'm
possible to get any direct information
on this point.
The conference broke up at 1890
o'clock and the representatives OF the
allies proceeded at once to their homes.
1t was made known that no agreement
had yet been reached for the raising OF
the blockade and that further word
must be awaited from Europe before
this stage of the negotiations is passed.
Details respecting payments still re-
main to be adjusted to the common sat
isfaction of all concerned and as UNI
der the instructions of their govern
ments each diplomatic representative
of the allies must report to his own
country these reports in turn being the
subject of cablegrams between the al
lies in order that the concert between
them may be preserved it will be at
least "a hours longer before the block
ade can be removed
Ry common consent the duty of CIV
| ing the press a statement of the con-
ference as far as it was deemed polite
| to make any announcement was de-
volved on Mr.. Bowen. That gentle
mans statement was as follows:
1--WE have been discussing, tonight,
certain points which needed to be
clearly understood. They have been re-
| ferred to US for consideration and our
views are now to be communicated at
once to Rome, London and Berlin"
| The further statement was made af-
| ter the conference that there was abso-
| lutely no foundation for charges that
| Germany was delaying the signing of
| the preliminary protocol. The repre-
sensations considered emenated from
the London foreign office.
| Impressed with the fair spirit in
which Minister Bowen has conducted
| the negotiations for Venezuela, one
of the largest German firms in exis-
tence has appealed to him to protect
German interests SO far as he may
be able in his representations to the
powers. He is especially urged to
snow the powers the serious harm that
| will befall foreign trade in Venezuela
| and throughout South America if the
allies insist on any proposition involv-
| ing the currency system of Venezuela.
| This appeal, with Mr.. BOwens en-
dorsement, has been communicated to
| the powers. Mr.. Bowen is thus placed
| in the peculiar attitude of asking pro-
| lection from the powers in the interest
of their own citizens.
| Signor Mayer Des Planches the
! Italian ambassador, as the ranking re-
| preventative of the allies called on Mr..
| Bowen Wednesday afternoon, and in
| formed him of the dispatch of the joint
| cablegram to the powers and ex-
pressed the hope that it would expe-
| dite the arrival of the final answer
| Partial confirmation has been OBJ
tanned here of cable dispatches that
Belgium it to take a prominent part
| in the administration of the customs
/
brief statement of the diplomatic debt
| of Venezuela and the methods for it's
| future adjustment. In round numbers
! this debt amounted on Dec. 81, 1901,
| to something over $4,000, 900, and con-
sisted of claims which had previously
been adjusted. Since that date owing
| to the almost constant state of revo-
luton which has prevailed in Venez-
uela no payments have been made on
the debt.
Mr.. Bowen's plan provides that 10 pei
cent of the customs receipts of all the
Venezuelan ports shall go toward the
payment of this debt. This arrange
ment. it is Stated, will interfere in no.
wise with the plan of Mr.. Bowen sub
mitted to the powers for the settlement
OF the unadiudicated claims. For the
payment of the latter 80 per cent. of the
customs duties of the two ports of
Porto Cabello and LaGuaira have been
offered in pledge by Mr.. Bowen. These
ports We're selected because they
would be the last to fall into the hands
of revolutionists.
No instructions have been received as
yet by the Belgian minister, Baron
Moncheur. relative to the settlement
of the claims of his government, but
these are expected within short time.
An Italian consul has been ordered
to Washington from Venezuela with
all the papers bearing on the claims of
his government. These will be placed |
at the disposal of the Italian ambassa-
dor. The latter is being congratulated |
on his diplomatic triumph in securing |
q pro rata payment of the claims for
the powers, as this means much for
the Italian government.
From the highest authority it was
learned. Wednesday night, that the
by the London foreign Of
fee of the fact that Great Britain and
not Germany sought the alliance
against Venezuela was brought about
by representations frotm the German
foreign office. 1t is said that Germany
had threatened to publish the diplomat
ic exchanges between the German and
British foreign offices'n ufiTess Great +
Britain Immediately shouldered the rel1,
for the alliance. This1
threat was induced by the anti German
ceiling aroused in the United States byI
vents in Venezuelan waters,