Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1903-02-05
FEARS Worldwide WAR.
President Castro Takes a Most
Gloomy View of the Latest De-
mands of the Allies.
IF net PEACE, Then BATTLE, he SAYS.
France Serves Notice That Treaty
Rights Will Be Revived, Which
Gives Authority to Act In depend
entity Of Other POwers-COmprO-
mise Proposal Presented.

mise Proposal Presented. q
New York, Feb. 3.-The Herald's
Caracas, correspondent quotes Presi-
dent Castro as saying in the course
of an interview: @&
Il cannot grasp the news from
Washington. L fear that the Nene-
zuelan conflict will be made a preteNl
for a world war. l have answered
however, the demand for preferential
treatment as follows: The Venezue-
Ian government desires equal treat
ment for every creditor nation, at
the same time keeping in mind and
respecting it's previous diplomatic
agreements and obligations. g..
French Claim Is Perfect. ..
''As far as l can see, the French
claim is absolutely perfect, yet the
blockading powers seem to desire to
invalidate it. This is a strange pro-
cedure, indeed, when you recall that
the French, Belgian and Spanish
claims already have that solemn sane
tion which the blockading powers
pretend to be desirOus their own
should receive. ..~.E
Will Fight Last Resort.
"Yet 1 am hopeful-yes always
hopeful. Mr.. Bowen has cabled me to
be prudent and patient. l shall be
both, and we will exhaust all peace
full means, with the understanding
that when that has been done we will
not give in but will fight.
"We have concluded that if there
is no honor among nations nor virtue
in international agreements we must
defend ourselves, and to insure tram
quillity we must take possession CT
Trinidad and other adjacent places
from which, with the consent of un-f
friendly powers, flibustering expedi-#
tions have started and have made
Venezuela welter in blood. 2
May Try to Collect.
Caracas. Feb. 3-The French lega-
ton has notified the Venezuelan gov.
ernment that in virtue of the conven.
tion of 1867 France was allowed to
collect directly part of the revenues
of several custom houses in Venezuela
as guaranty for her diplomatic
claims arising out of the previous
revolutions. France, it is said, re.
nounced forever by the convention of
1885 the exercise of this right on con-
dition that the interest on this debt
should always be regularly paid. AS
this payment has not been made,
France, without asking the author.
ization of Germany, England and
Italy, intends to revive her right of
direct collection.
Challenge to the Powers.
The French charge d'affaires, Quiev-
reux, has paid visits to the foreign
ministry and has twice called or
President Castro during the, last As
hours. This activity ON the part Of
France is evidently in connection
with her intention to revive her
rights, and is considered as an an
swer to the attitude adopted by the
allied powers.
No Answer Received.
London, Feb. 3.-The answer Of
Venezuela to the rejection by the al
lied powers of her proposal to treat
on an equality the claims of all ma
tions, without giving the allies prefer
ence, has not yet been received, nor
has any definite counter-proposal been
made. It is not anticipated here that
the negotiations looking to COM
promise which are now going on in
Washington will reach head for at
least two days.
Compromise Proposed.
Washington, Feb. g. Propositions
involving compromise of the allied
powers contention for preferential
treatment in the settlement of their
submitted to the governments Of
Great Britain, Germany and Italy by
their representatives at Washington,
and while no answers have been re-
ceived as yet, there is reason for the
belief that the allies will see way
to accept the latest proposition. This
compromise has been suggested by
one of the representatives of the al
lies here, and while it has not for
mally received the endorsement OF
Minister Bowen, it is felt that he will
not enter serious objection to its
adoption, provided the United States
and the other claimant nations OUT
side of the alliance can be convinced
that their own interests in Venezuela
will not be substantially injured By
yielding to a plan which seems TO
offer solution Of the present seri-
Gus hitch in the Washington negotia
tions.
Wants Blockade Lifted.
Washington, Feb. 8. Minister
Bowen is willing that the allied pow
ers shall receive preferential pay
ments Of their claims against .Vens-