Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-08
SIGNED THE PROTOCOLS
ACT OF DIPLOMATS AT THE
BRITISH EMBASSY.
Question of Preferential Treatment Of
Blockading Powers Sent to
The Hague.

Venezuelan protocols submitting the cues
ton OF preferential treatment to The Hague
| tribunal and also protocols for the mixed
| commission at Caracas were signed at tho
British embassy last evening by Ambassa-
dor Herbert of Great Britain, Minister
Sternburg of Germany. Ambassador Mayor
des Planches of Italy and Minister Bowen.
representing Venezuela
The three sets of The Hague protocols
are in the English language. Mr. Bowen
VIII send copies of the protocols to the vari-
Gus peace powers and request their adher-
ence. He expects to sail for Caracas from
New York on the Philadelphia May 49,
The striking feature of The Hague proto-
col is the concluding clause of article l.
which provides that in case The Hague de-
cides adversely to the blockading powers
contention for preferential treatment the
manner of payment of the other creditor
nations shall be such that no power shall
obtain preferential treatment"
Following is the text of the articles of the
British protocol, which corresponds, muta-
It's mutandis, to the Italian and German
conventions:
Article 1. The question as to whether or
not Great Britain, Germany and Italy are
entitled to preferential or separate treat
ment In the payment of their claims against
Venezuela shall be submitted for final deci-
sion to the tribunal at The Hague Ven-
eZuela having agreed to set aside 20 per
cent of the customs revenues of La Guaira
and Puerto Cabello for the payment of the
claims of all nations against Venezuela, the
tribunal at The Hague shall decide how the
said revenues shall be divided between the
blockading powers on the one hand and the
other creditor powers on the other hand
and Its decision shall be final If preferen-
tial or separate treatment Is not given to
the blockading powers the tribunal shall de-
eide how the said revenues shall be distrib-
uted among all the creditor powers, and the
hot t1A t-,lN
that case shall consider, in connection with
the payment of the claims out of the 80 per
cent, any preference or pledges of revenue
enjoyed by any of the creditor powers and
shall accordingly decide the question of dis
tribution so that no power shall obtain
preferential treatment, and it's decision
shall be final.
article 2. The facts on which shall de-
pend the decision of the question stated in
article l shall be ascertained in such man.
ner as the tribunal may determine.
Article B. The Emperor of Russia shall
be invited to name and appoint from the
members of the permanent court of The
Hague three arbitrator to constitute the
tribunal which is to determine and settle
the questions submitted to it under and by
virtue of this agreement. None of the ar
bitrators so appointed shall be citizen or
subject of any of the signatory or creditor
powers. This tribunal shall meet on the
1st day of September, 1903, and shall rem
der its decision within six months there
after
Article T. The proceedings shall be car
ried on in the English language, but argu-
ments may. with the permission of the tri-
bunal be made in any other language also
Except as herein otherwise stipulated, the
procedure shall be regulated by the con-
vention of The Hague of July % 1899.
Article 5. The tribunal SHALL subject TO
the general provision laid down In article
% of the international convention of July
%, 1899, also decide how, when and by
whom the costs of this arbitration shall be
paid.
Article @. Any nation having claims
against Venezuela may join as party in
the arbitration provided for by this agree
ment.
Done at Washington this 9TH day of
May, 1909