The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-02-10
SECRET ALLIANCE
A Wheel Within a Wheel
Among the Allied
Powers.
(By the Associated Press.)

Washington, Feb. disclosure Of ?
secret alliance between Germany and
Italy constituted the most important de
~vclopment III the Venezuelan situation
tonight. This fact has been made known
TO the British Ambassador, and il VIII
put all Of the negotiators more closely
on their guard in drafting the protocols
which they hope to submit TO Minister
Bowen during the next few days. The
Carman-ItaIian alliance was old news to
Mr.. Bowen The fact having leaked out ~
Caracas before he left there. Generally
speaking the alliance is Intended to Sc
cure 10 italy the same treatment in tie
allies settlement with Venezuela a.
that received hy Germany and Great
Britain. Mr. Bowen has made it plain,
both 10 the British Ambassador and to
the German Minister. Baron SpecI Won
Stcrnburg, that he cannot aGiy his sig
nature to any protocols they may pres
ont to him which arc not substantially
Of the same character as that to be sub
mittcd by the Italian Ambassador, Signor
MAYO DcS FIaacheS. All three Of tho
first set Of protocols to be signed, which
viii contain the conditions precedent To
the raising Of tho blockade and the pro-
visions fer referring the question Of pref
ercntial treatment to The Hague for
decision, have been received at the
Italian, British and German embassies.
Their contents are not known to Nj.
Bowen nor have the allies representa-
tfves here been acquainted as yet with
the details Of each others conventions.
Several important conferences have oc-
CURED throughout the day At the British
Embassy in an effort to reach an agree
nent upon the protocols.
Several more or less sensational
stories have been in circulation during
the last few days, which have caused
considerable annoyance to the British
Ambassador and to the other negotiators
regarding the note Mr.. Bowen addressed
to the~former or Monday last, proposing
that the question~of preferential treat
ment be referred to The Hague.
That these reports may be corrected,
the negotiators ere DESTROYS that the
facts shall be stated. On Tuesday after
the sending of this note to the British
Ambassador tho latter called on FIR.
Bowen and asked that he withdraw tho
entire note on the ground that it was
not diplomatic in character. Mr.. Bowen
was compelled to refuse to grant this
request. The Ambassador then asked
that the sentence, beginning: ION this
side Of the water We want peace and not
alliance" be Withdrawn. Again. Mr..
Bowen regretted that he could not grant
the Ambassadors request. Finally the
Ambassador represented that the latter
part Of the sentence regarding the con
tinuance OF the alliance Of Great Britain
with Germany and Italy would cause him
embarrassment when submitted to tbs
Italian Ambassador and the German
80 49,
he would be only TOO glad to do anything
that would further the negotiations, and
at once struck out the Objectionable
clause which read as follows:
And it will occasion great surprise
and regret when ii becomes known that
Great Britain has even proposed con
tinuing her present alliance with Ger
many and Italy one moment longer than
she must"