The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-02-06
He IRRITATES THEM
so ALLIES WILL TURN FROM
BOWEN TO ROOSEVELT.
THEY WANT HIM AS ARBlTER.
THIS FAILING, THEY WILL TURN
TO THE HAGUE.


tiaJ Treatment to ROOseveIt-Wi1
Be n Conference of the Allies
Representative TO-day-scnrceIy
Believed That Roosevelt Will Con-
sent to This Plan.
Washington, Feb. 5.-Irritated by the
note of Minister Bowen, Venezuelas
representative, addressed to the British
ambassador on Monday last, refusing
TO accept the allies proposal for a
scheme of preferential payments, by
which Great Britain, Germany and
Italy were to receive 20 per cent. and
the remaining eight creditor nations 10
per cent. of the customs receipts of La
Guayra and Puerto Cabello, the allied
Powers have instructed their repre-
sentatives here to submit the question
of preferential treatment settlement to
President Roosevelt, and in the event
he declines to act as arbitrator, to take
this and probably the whole Venezue-
Ian controversy to The Hague for set
tlement thereby breaking off negotia-
lions with Mr. Bowen.
At 10 o'clock tomorrow morning, at
conference of the representatives of
the allies. In view of the fact that
the London government is now taking
the lead in the negotiations, the Brit
ish ambassador will. preside at this con-
ference. In the meantime he expects
to have an interview with the Secre-
tary of State, whom he will sound as
to the probability of the Presidents
acceptance of the allies request.
If it is found that President Roose-
welt is not disposed to allow himself to
be dragged into the negotiations, the
instructions of the allies are such as
to permit them to forego the embar-
rassment of a rejection at his hands,
and instead of making known their
wishes to him, steps will be taken to
draw up a protocol with Mr.. Bowen
for a reference of the case to The
Hague, as suggested by him in his note
of Monday. The British ambassador
was the first of the representatives to
receive instructions to this effect, and
the matter was discussed at the noon
day conference of the three representa-
tiNes of the allies.
Caused little SURPRISE.
Announcement of the decision of the
allies to abandon further negotiations
with Mr. Bowen has not been received
with surprise by the few officials of
the Washington government who have
been advised of it.
The Hague tribunal" said an Of
fetal of the administration tonight,
has all along been kept in sight as
port of safety in case the negotiations
here We're not productive of final
settlement. And as for the suggestion
that the President act as arbiter, that
has been q favorite idea of the allies
since the beginning of the trouble"
Whether President Roosevelt will
accept this invitation of the allies is
not known. An official of the ad-
ministration expressed his surprise to-
night that the allies would be willing
to submit this question to the Presi-
dent, in view of the fact that their
representatives within the last few
days have informed them by cable that
the President views with disfavor the
contention of the allies for preferen-
tial treatment
The drafting of a protocol will, it is
expected, occupy some time, but it is
the understanding that upon the sub
mission of the matter either to the
President or to The Hague the block
ade is to be raised at once
Willing to Pay Cash.
1t developed to-day that during
call of Count Quadt. secretary of the
German embassy, upon Mr. Bowen
this morning the latter stated to him
his willingness to make to Germany
and Italy a cash payment of $4,000
each. This was done because of Mr..
Bowen's action in the early part of
the negotiations in conceding to Great
Britain a similar amount for satisfac-
ton of the alleged indignities which
the British government claims it's citi-
zens have suffered in Venezuela This
amount was named by the British am
baSSador.
Various intimations have leaked out
here regarding certain details of the
plan proposed by Mr.. Bowen, and al
ready accepted by the allies for the
settlement of their claims against
Venezuela after the veXed question of
preferential treatment shall have been
decided. The Associated Press is en-
abled to state in it's entirety the plan
agreed upon.
Commissions to Settle Claims.
After the preferential question has
been settled the adjudication of the
claims of each of the creditor nations
Is to be taken up by separate commits
sions, one for each claimant Power.
These commissions will each consist
of a representative of the creditor ma
ton and a representative Tor Vene-
zuela. In case of disa greement, the
King of Spain is, in each instance, 10
appoint an arbiter. 1t is expected
that each claimant Power will appoint
its envoy at Caracas to represent 1t
on its commission, and President cas-
trc will delegate either the Venezue-
Ian minister for foreign affairs, or
some other official of the foreign Of
fire as Venezuelan's representative
Where the services of an arbiter are
needed the King of Spain will, in all
probability, select for this mission the
Spanish minister to Caracas, VINO Is
recognized as an able diplomat.
After the claims have been ADJUST
ed, they are to be collected by the
Venezuelan officials from the customs
receipts of the two ports of Puerto
Cabello and La Guayra, 30 per cent.
being the amount which Mr.. Bowen
and the allies have agreed shall be set
aside for this purpose. In the event
that the Caracas government permits
thirty days, at any time during the
settlement of the claims, to pass with
out prompt and full payments to any
nation, the plan provides that the Bel
GUM government shall then step in
and take charge Of, the administration
OF the custom receipts to insure fair
treatment for the foreigners.
Venezuela May Kick.
An official of the Washington gov
eminent, upon learning tonight Of the