Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-02
POWERS CONFER OVER NOTE
OastrO's Proposition is Acceptable Except as
to One Point.
THIS is NEW ONE RAIsEDsY VENEZUELA
OhictR1s Decline TO Its
Character, but European Govern
msnts Interchanse Views
as TO Its PurpOrt.

rs TO Its
ROME, Jan. 1.-Foreign Minister Prinetti
this afternoon received through Ambassador
Meyer, Secretary Hays note communicate
ing President Castro's acceptance OF The
Hague arbitration proposition, but with an
additional proposition which the govern
ment at Washington does not support.
At the New Years diplomatic reception
today Foreign Minister Prinetti and Am
bassador Meyer exchanged congratulations
over the anticipated settlement by arbitra-
tion Of the Venezuelan troubles.
Senior Prinetti expressed his appreciation
Of the attitude OF the United States and
his satisfaction at the State departments
action throughout the affair.
While reserve is maintained at the for
eign ofice with regard to the Venezuelan
matter, II has been learned that the foreign
ONCE considers the additional proposition
made by President Castro as not likely
Of acceptance. Communications on this
subject are being exchanged with Germany
and Great Britain.
Powers Are Slow to Answer.
LONDON, Jan. 1.-The r~ejoinders Of the
European foreign Offices to President Cas-
tro's reply to their arbitration proposal
have not reached Washington.
This, however, occasions no surprise, as
the holidays are much more closely OBJ
served in European capitals than in Wash
ipgton. Following the rule which 1t has
adopted in the treatment Of correspond
ence passing between Venezuela and the
allies, the State department still declines
to make public any information respecting
the details Of President Castro's reply, but
inquiry confirms the Associated Press re-
port from Rome to the effect that Castro
did attach a condition to the arbitration
| proposal, and that proposition was not en-
dorsed by the Washington government.
However. 1t is pointed out that 1t has not
been regarded as necessary at the State
department to either approve or disapprove
any of the details OF the propositions now
in exchange between the principals. As
to conditions attached to the acceptance, it
can be stated that 1t is not Of great con-
sequence, nor is 1t likely to involve the
loss of the, arbitration project, for 1t is
understood to relate rather to the means
Of getting the issue to arbitration than
to any substantial. principle involved.
Castro, Deanes His Attitude.
CARACAS, Jan. 1.-The report current in
Willemstad, Curacao, that the government
sustained a defeat in the recent fight with
the revolutionary forces at Barquisimeto
is untrue. The government was victorious
at Barquisimeto, and that town, as we'll as
San Carlos and Tinaquillo, was recaptured
from the rebels, as was duly reported in
these dispatches.
There have been persistent rumors in Of
fetal circles and throughout the city since
yesterday that President Castro had re-
fused to agree to the proposals Of the allies
to refer the Venezuelan question to TIL
Hague.
The correspondent Of the Associated Press
saw the president himself for half an houl
this afternoon. 1t is not true that the
president has declined the proposals o.
the powers; the executive declares that hi
only wants fair treatment. 1t was cleal
from what President Castro said that h
believes It will be very easy to reach
full settlement Of the entire controversy
President Castro said to the, correspond
emit: v.
"If a settlement Is not reached, 1t will
be because a settlement forms no par
of the plan of the allies. In this case thu
prolongation Of the present situation woult
be disastrous for all concerned. The solu
ton of the present difficulty depends NOR,
on the allied powers than on Venezuela"
The president was questioned as I
whether or not he would renounce tn
presidency and whether it was his purpos
to make a change in the present cabinet
He replied: people are at liberty to tai
whatever nonsense they please. l will max
a change in the cabinet when the presen
serious condition is ended"
r. m il Satisfied.
3 BERLIN, Jan. president Castro's re
. ply to- the powers through Mr:NBowe
is substantially an unqualified acceptance
9 their proposals to arbitrate under accom-
panying conditions. The Foreign ONCE her
received his answer today and is Statistic
s with it's spirit. A further interchange
views, preparatory to signing the protocol
will take place in Washington.
] The only really important question to b
settled is what shall be done with the block
3 ade. A continuance of the blockade is re
lied upon to hasten the conclusion Of III
arbitration preliminaries on the part {
Venezuela.
CARACAS, Jan. THE arbitration pror
~ositions Of the foreign powers and th
Z counter propositions Of Venezuela, e1
n changed through Minister Bowen yesterda,
n are said by a high Venezuelan authority
!, be easily reconcilable.
LOINDOINs jan 4s-NIs Nnlleg huc OhAN
States charge, delivered to the foreis
office today the. proclamation announcir
President Castro's acceptance OF the PR
posai to have the Venezuelan claims al
bitrated by The Hague tribunal.
z British WarshiP IneIteS Anger.
LA GUAYRA, Venezuela, Jan, In
n former Venezuelan gunboat z~umbador. no
transformed into a British wsrship, a
rived here at noon today and caused col
siderable indignation among the Peep
Is ashore. who looked upon its arrival he
81 under the British nag, especially on Ne
Years day, as adding insult to injury.
Il The Italian cruiser Carlo Alberto a
a rived here this afternoon.
h VIII submit Belgian Claims.
BRUSSELS, Jan. Lit is said here tn
n an arrangement has been completed b
v tween Germany and Great Britain to su
init the Belgian claims to the intern
= tional peace court at The Hague at Il
same time the A-ngio-German claims again
the South American republic are taken
that tribunal.