Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-28
BOWEN SETTLES DETAILS
Diplomats Wait on VeneTuela'S Representa-
tive To Discuss Settlement.
PREFERRED TREATMENT IS ASKED FOR
CRstro's Delegate Refuses and Ann
bnssadOrs Agree That All Debt
ors Shall he Treated on
Equality.

! WASHINGTON, Jan. 27.-The powers |
are yet haggling over the details Of Mr.. !
Bowens last proposition regarding the
lifting Of the blockade and the guarantee
he is prepared to offer. but Sir Michael
Herbert, the British ambassador, is using
his personal influence to secure the accept
| ance OF Mr. Bowen's proposition.
The first joint conference Of the Ven
| ezuelan negotators took place during this
afternoon by appointment in Mr. Bowen's
! departments, signor Mayor des Planches,
the Italian ambassador, making the repre-
| sentations in French.
Details Alone Remain.
The question under discussion was a
matter Of the merest detail. the ENJOYS
wanting to know whether the monthly
payment to allies should be in proper
| tion to the amount OF the claims, or
whether Great Britain, Germany and Italy
| would receive the same amounts each
| month until the indemnity was paid. Mr..
| Bowen said he was quite willing to leave
that to the powers themselves, and that
any arrangement they made would be sat-
isfactory to Venezuela.
Another detail involved the question Of
preferential treatment Of the allied pow
| eTS as against DSuudAh' IlOliahu'
Norway aud Sweden Belgium, Spain and
the United States in the payment of the
| indemnity.
The point was made by Venezuela's rep
| resentative that were the dispute referred
to The Hague tribunal all the powers would
be required to stand on an equality, and
furthermore that as this question did not
form a part Of the allies condition prece>
dent to the raising of the blockade II did
not seem fair that it should be presented
as essential now that Venezuela had COM
piled with the original proposition and Of
fered satisfactory guaranty.
This answer was cabled to the foreign
offices in London, Berlin and Rome to-
night, and is hoped that favorable an
swers will be received tomorrow. The
force OF Mr.. Bowens contention has ap-
pealed to the allies representatives here,
and there is reason to believe that Great
Britain, Germany and Italy will yield and
sign the protocol for the raising OF the
blockade.
The blockade once lifted, the representa-
tives OF all the powers having claims will
treat with Mr.. Bowen separately for set
tlement.
Believe Castro is sincere.
BERLIN, Jan. 27.-President Castros
offer Of 30 per cent Of the customs receipts
of La Guayra and Puerto Cabello as guar
anty for the payment of foreign claims 10
regarded in official circles here as evidence
Of the sincerity of his intention to reach
a satisfactory settlement.
The offer. however, includes the claims
Of other countries besides those taking part
in the blockade, and some doubt is cX-
pressed as to whether 80 per cent is ade-
quate. A discussion is now proceeding to
| determine this point
II is also uncertain whether the allies
will admit that powers which did not join
in the blockade shall share in the results
the former secured through expensive naval
operations. ,........ .
/ England and Germany Agree.
LONDON, Jan. 27.-The following state
ment was authorized by the German en-
bassy here:
There is not the slightest truth in the
reports OF friction or misunderstanding be-
tween England and Germany in regard to
Venezuela.
Both governments continue to act in
perfect harmony and will simultaneously
withdraw the blockade at the earliest pos
/, sibe moment. II is to be regretted that
the House of Commons is not in session, as
question in the house would doubtless
reveal the perfect understanding which
There has been no disapproval of any
kind expressed by the British government
regarding Germany's conduct Of affairs
p, in connection with Venezuela.
mo date has yet been settled upon for
raising the blockade, but It will cease
Just as soon as the representatives of the
powers reach a final agreement with Mr..
Bowen.
The feeling expressed in the press here
and reflected in the cable dispatches from
New York that England finds the German
alliance embarrassing is in no way con-
hrmed by the governments attitude"
Oner Castro Money.
= CARACAS, Jan. 27-The government has
4 received from banks in Mexico and South
( American cities offers of money with which
IS to pay the foreign claims. Similar pro-
e posals have been received from Paris.
s The news cabled yesterday that the
j. blockade would be called of tomorrow ia
r confirmed by the semi-oficial press here
q which says:
d There are we'll. founded reasons today for
the belief that the blockade will be sus-
pended between today and tomorrow night
Each block of streets in Caracas was
/ lighted yesterday by only one gas burner
a The companies possessing electric plants
however, are prepared to light the city
n with arc lamps II necessary.
e Only foreigners are suffering from the
3 effects OF the blockade, the Venezuelans
v themselves. accustomed to native products
It are not undergoing any hardships, except
through the shortage of salt. The supply
- of corn is sufficient to furnish native bread
for year.