Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1903-02-07
SIGNS ARE HOPEFUL.
Indications of Agreement in the
Venezuelan Affair.
Allies Representatives Send Request
to Their Governments Which, if
Acceded to, Will Prevent Refer
ence to Hague Tribunal.

| vet no advices from the allied govern
ments respecting the nature of the
next proposal they will submit to Mr..
! Bowen, Venezuela's representative,
! for settlement of their claims, but
there is good authority for the state
ment that the note of Mr.. Bowen, ad-
dressed to the British ambassador
Monday night will result in an adjust
ment of the trouble. AT the British
embassy Tuesday the most important
conference that the representatives of
the allies have held among themselves
took place. Mr.. Bowen, of course, was
not present. The conference was
| called to consider the recommends
tions which the Italian and British am
bassadors and the German minister
should make to their governments as
to the next step to be taken. AS re-
suit of this conference, the foreign Of
fees in London, Berlin and Rome are
in possession of suggestions which, if
adopted, will mean the success of the
Washington negotiations and the rails
ing of the blockade The allied powers
have been again requested by their rep
resentatlves to consent to priority of
payment of their claims for a limited
period only, and equality of all claim
ant nations thereafter.
Mr.. Bowen has stated that he is will
ing that the allies receive preferential
treatment for one month, if at the end
of that time all the claimant nations
be placed on an equal basis as to time
and proportionate payments. it is the
conviction of one of the negotiators
at least that this proposition of Mr..
Bowen is eminently fair. 1t involves
compromise of the powers original
request for SIX years preferential
treatment, but will enable them to re-
tain part at least of their prestige
The feeling is growing that per-
sistence in their present position can
result only In loss of prestige for the
allies and bad feeling against them,
not only in Venezuela, but elsewhere
throughout the Americas AS result
of these considerations at the confer
ence at the British embassy, it was
agreed that note should be addressed
to the three governments of Great
Britain, Germany and Italy, setting
forth the exact attitude of the United
States with reference to the powers
preferential demand, the state of pub
lie feeling here regarding it, and to
urge prompt acceptance of preferen-
tial payments for period of from one
to six months. An answer is hoped
for from one if not all the allies within
the next "A hours.
Opposed to Hague Tribunal.
The question of referring the one
question of preferential treatment to
| The Hague for settlement as sup-
| gested by Mr.. Bowen in his note to the
| British ambassador, came up at the
conference, and it was evident at once
| that the negotiators were one in their
opposition to calling in The Hague
tribunal except as last resort. The 4
| point was made at the conference that
if the allied governments would ar
range for compromise along the
lines suggested by Mr.. Bowen, they
would do much to prove their claim
that the real basis of their preferential
demand was one of honor and not of
the dollar
The British ambassador, in a call on
Mr.. Bowen during the forenoon. asked
him regarding his proposition to refer
the matter to The Hague, and it de-
veloped that Mr. Bowen was no less
anxious than the allies representatives
that the whole controversy be settled
here and now. All these facts have
been cabled in full to the three powers.
and their representatives are now
awaiting an answer, in hopes that their
suggestions will be adopted in the in
terest of an early peace
Castro's Troops Win
Caracas, Feb. 4.-The governments
troops under Gen. Alcantara, a gradu-
ate from West Point, have defeated a
force of rebels mum boring 900 under
the revolutionary Gen. Ducharme. on
the Camatagua river (about so miles
south of Caracas). The rebels were
routed, their ammunition and $50 pris-
oners were captured. Since the rout
of Gen. Matos and his army of 1000
men by President Castro near La, Vic
toria, October IS, the remnants of the !
rebel forces have been dispersed in all !
directions. These scattered bodies of /
rebels. believing that arms and ammu-
milton had been landed, lately reunited.
and to the number of about 1000. I'M
der Gems. Rolando and Ducharme. as
sembied at Altagracia, at the entrance
to the Gulf of Maracaibo and at ORR
tuco, a village 60 miles south of Car
acas. Gen. Ducharme, with 900 men.
advanced up to the Camatagua river.
President Castro sent a force of 900 |
troops against him under Gen. .Alcan
tara, who took the rebels by surprise
and routed them after seven hours |
fight. Alcantara captured 80 officers |
and 200 soldiers. 10000 rounds and all !
the rebels reserve ammunition and SO |
animals. The balance of Ducharme's |
army fed in the direction of Orituco. I
CIVIL WAR IN HONDURAS.
presfdent-E1ect Refused His Seat nv /