The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-02-03

WASHINGTON, D. c.. Feb. 2-Her-
bert w. Bowen, VeneZuela'S representa-
tive in the negotiations for the settle
ment of the claims against that coun-
try, has sent through the British am
bassador here what amounts practical
ly to an ultimatum to the allied powers
of Great Britain, Germany and Italy re-
garding their inSstence for preferential
treatment in the settlement of their
claims against Venezuela. The note.
which the British amba ssador received
shortly before 9 o'clock tonight, was
cabled to London, copies of it being
transmitted to the Italian and German
embassies for transmission to Rome
and Berlin.
1t is in reply to the proposition sub
mitted at a joint conference of the ne
gOtiators, this afternoon, by the British
ambassador, that the allied powers be
allowed twO-thirds of the 80 per cent
of the customs receipts of the ports of
La Guaira and Porto Cabello and that
the United States and other claimant
nations-France, Belgium, Holland
Denmark, Spain and Norway and Swe-
den, content themselves with the other
one-third of the percentage, that 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 tonight
the latter refuses point blank the prop
osition for a 20 and 10 per cent division
OF the ground that to recognize the
principle it enbodies would be abso-
lutely offensive to modern civilization.
In, r I. f1a hot h.,
ors are agreed on all save the question
of preferential treatment, the ambassa-
dor is informed that Venezuela has de-
cided to submit that question to The
Hague arbitration tribunal. The ac-
ceptance of this proposition, Venezuela
contends, carries with it a raising of
the blockade, the general understand
ing being that the blockade would end
when the negOtiators at Washington
had reached an agreement.
1t is undWerstood that, in refusing
this last proposition submitted by the
allies, Mr.. Bowen takes the ground
that he cannot accept in principle the
contention that blockades and bonn
baTdment 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 a civilized nation.
A Dangerous Doctrine.
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.
Moreover, Venezuela, it is stated, re-
CARDS the preferential demand of the
powers as Objectionable because it
would enable the continuance of the
triple alliance of Great Britain, Ger
many and Italy for six years or more,
and in accepting it Venezuela would
be encouraging and abetting the
maintenance of hostile alliances against
herself. The British 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-
Sitlon by which Great Britain can hold
fast to Germany and Italy in their al
lance against Venezuela until the last
cent of the claim is paid. The predic-
ton is made in her response that sur
prise and regret of the keeneSt sort
Will be felt throughout the Americas
when it is known that Great Britain
has even proposed continuing her pres
ent alliance with Germany and Italy
one moment longer than is necessary,
particularly in view of her previous
representations that she was anxious
to end the dispute and call off the al
lance at the earliest possible moment.
UnaIIied Nations With Bowen.
In suggesting that the question of
preferential claims be referred to The
Hague, it is understood that Mr.. Bow
en- does so in view of the fact that the
IIlpSfiOn iS the nT1lU which inc
in dispute. The allies are advised that
Venezuela is desirous that all the ne
gotiators shall stand by what has been
already agreed on. The note to the
British ambassador concluded with an
appeal for justice to The Hague tri-
bunal regarding the contention of the
allies for preferential payment and an
assertion that such action carried with
1t the raising of the blockade Some
significance may attach to the note in
view of the fact that before dispatch
ing IL to the British embassy Minister
Bowen was IN conference with Secre-
tary Hay.
Whether the allies will accept as
final What Mr.. Bowen has had to say,
or Will assume a conciliatory attitude
and ask, as has been suggested both
by Mr. Bowen and by the representa-
yves OF the allies in this city, for
preferential treatment for a limited
period, no one in Washington feels
competent to predict. The position
taken by Mr.. Bowen, it is stated. has
received the Endorsement of all the un-
allied claimant nations, in which mum
Der is included the United States.
At the joint conference this after
noon, besides Mr.. Bowen, the Italian
and British ambassadors and the Ger
man minister, there was also present
Court A. Won Quadt, first secretary OF
the German embassy, who until the
arrival of Baron Speck Won Sternburg,
conducted with activity and Judgment
the negotiations on behalf of his gov
eminent.