Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1903-02-03
JJWEk'SljL1 IRATUM
Venezuelan Representative Re
fuses Point Blank Allies
Claims for Preference.
CASTRO APPEALS TO THE HAGUE
British Ambassador Is lnformef in
the Note that Americans, North and
South, Want Peace, Not Alliances.
Crisis May Be Near at Hand.

washington, Feb. 3.-Herbert w.
Bowen, Venezuela's representative in
the negotiations at Washington for
settlement of the claims against that
country, has sent through the British
ambassador what amounts to prac.i-
cally an uHimatum to the allied pow
,ers OF Great Britain, Germany and
italy regarding their insistence for
preferential treatment in the settle
ment of their claims against Vene-
zuela. This note, which the British
ambassador received shortly before
o'clock last night, was cabled at
once to London, copies of 1t being
transmitted to the Italian and Ger
man embassies for transmission 70
Rome and Berlin. II is In reply to the
proposition submitted at joint con-
ference of the negotiators yesterday
afternoon by the British ambassador
that the allied powers be allowed two
thirds of the 80 per cent of the Gus
tom receipts of the ports Of La GHaira
and Porto Cabello. and that the Uni
ted States and the other claimant ma
tons. France, Belgium, Holland. Dem
mark, Spain and Norway and Sweden,
content themselves with the remain
ing onethird of this percentage-ths
is, 10 per cent of the receipts Of these
two ports.
Point Blank Refusal.
In the note received by the British
ambassador from Mr.. Bowen last
night the latter refuses point blank
the proposition for a 20 and 10 per
cent division on the ground that -
recognize the principle it embodies
would be absolutely offensive to mod
ern civilization. In view of the fac.
that the negotiators are agreed on
all save the question Of preferential
treatment the ambassador is inform
ed that Venezuela has decided to sub
NIT that question to The Hague arbi-
tration tribunal Acceptance of this
proposition, Venezuela contends, ca
ries with it a raising of the blockade.
the general understanding being that
the blockade would end when the ne
gotiators at Washington had reached
an agreement It is understood that
la refusing this last proposition sub
mitted by the British ambassador on
behalf of the allies Mr.. Bowen takes
the ground that he cannot accept iE
principle the contention that block
AIDES and bombardment of forts. and
the consequent killing of helpless
men. women and children, entities
any power or alliance of powers to
preferential treatment at the hands
Of civilized nation.
1t is claimed that should the peace
powers and the blockading powers
agree to such a principle they would
incorporate in the law Of nations a
doctrine in conflict with the tenets
of all modern day ethics.
Want Peace, Not Alliances.
Moreover, Venezuela, it is stated.
regards the preferential demand of
the powers as Objectionable because
Il would enable the continuance of the
triple alliance of Great Britain, Ger
many and Italy for a period of six
years or more and in accepting It
Venezuela would be encouraging AMI
abetting the maintenance of hostile
alliances against herself. The Brit
ish ambassador is informed in the
note that Americans, north and south.
want peace, and not alliances.
Venezuela has taken special excep-
ton 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 il
their alliance against Venezuela until
the last cent of the claim Is paid The
prediction Is made in her response
that surprise and regret of the keen
est sort will be felt throughout the
Americas when 1t 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-
zuelan dispute and call off the ALI
ance at the earliest possible time.
Consulted Secretary Hay.
In suggesting that the question OF
preferential treatment be referred to
The Hague 1t Is understood that Mr.
Bowen does SO In view of the fact that
this question is the only one which
remains in dispute. The allies arc
advised that Venezuela Is DESTROYS
that all the negotiators shall stand by
what has been already agreed on.
The British ambassador declined last
night to make public the text of tina
note addressed to him, as it is in re-
atty a note to the allied powers but
II became known thas it was along
the lines here set forth, and conclud-
ed with an appeal for justice to The
Hague tribunal regarding the conten.
ton of the allies for preferential pay
ment, and an assertion that such ac-
ton carried with 1t the raising of the
blockade. Some significance may at
tach to the note in view of the fact
that before dispatching it to the Brit
ish embassy Mr.. Bowen was in con-
ference with Secretary Hay
Mr.. 6owen's Position Endorsed.
Whether the allies will accept. as
Anal what Mr.. Bowen has had to say
or will assume a conciliatory attitude
~ u 4. L..