The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-02-05
THEY WANT TO SETTLE
WITHOUT THE HAGUE.
That is What the Negotiators Are
4-- Striving For.

Vnat Is w naL thG NJ
Washington, Feb. 4.-Every effort is
being made by the representatives Of
the allies here to secure an early set
Element of the Venezuelan dispute
without referring it to The Hague. In
this effort the Italian and British am
bassadors and the German minister,
Baron von Sternburg, are receiving the
Endorsement of Mr.. Bowen, as we'll as
the cordial approval of the govern
n.ent of the United States.
1t is understood that the President,
while in no way connected with the
negotiations, is personally in favor of
a final agreement being reached at
Washington. This fact, it is believed,
will have an important bearing on the
decision of the British and German
foreign offices.
The British ambassador and the
German minister have both cabled to
their governments the fact that Mr..
Bowen has expressed his willingness to
give the allies preferential treatment
for three months in order that they
may emerge from the controversy
without injury to their honor The
allies have not yet answered the last
presentations of their ENJOYS here
urging an acceptance of this plan.
Advices reached here from Berlin this
afternoon of an important nature, but
assurances are given that they were
sent prior to the submission of the last
proposition, and affected only detail
of the controversy. Their purport was
not discoura ging. 1t may be some days
Yet before final answer reaches Wash
ington, but all the negotiators feel
hopeful of a successful outcome.
At a joint conference at the British
embassy to-day the three months prop
osition was discussed at length, and the
question of the possible reference of the
case to The Hague was considered. 1t
was declared that the claimant nations
will suffer far more than Venezuela if
the Washington negotiations fail. Ref
erence to The Hague would serve only
to complicate further an ugly situa-
ton, it is said. and the negotiatorS feel
that it's main effect would be an in
crease of unrest throughout the United
States and South America against the
allied Powers. British and German
trade, it is said, is suffering greatly
from the maintenance of the blockade.
The British ambassador had long
conference with Secretary Hay to-day,
and in the meantime Baron Won Stern
burg was calling on Mr.. Bowen. The
British amba ssador was DESTROYS of
knowing the attitude of the Washing
ton government respecting a reference
of the dispute to The Hague, and the
fact that the administration favors a
prompt settlement by the Washington
negotiators themselves induced him
to lay before his government the rea-
sons why acceptance of preferential
treatment for three months was .desir-
able.
1t is regarded here as fortunate
that the negotiators themselves are
acting in harmony. EARLY in the ne
gotiations the British ambassador
pledged himself to do all in his power
to settle the Venezuela dispute as soon
as possible and all his efforts in this
direction are receiving the Endorsement
of the Washington government. 1t is
said in an authoritative quarter that
the President and the German EN-
peror are both taking a keen interest
in the early adjustment of the dispute,
feeling that no good can come of pro-
longing the blockade.