Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-03-22
VENEZUELAN
GOVERNMENT.
And British and German Bond.
holders Reach Agreement for
Adjusting Exterior Debt.

London, March 22,--At the office of
the council Of foreign bondholders the
Associated Press was informed today
that an agreement between the Ven
ezuelan government and the British
and German bondholders adjusting and
consolidating the exterior debt, SIS ,OO0-
900, will be signed tomorrow, the de-
tails having been concluded 10 the sat
isfaction OF both parties. 1t was added
that the guarantees comprise consider
ably more than so per cent OF the Gus
toms duties Of all ports except La
Guayra and Puerto Cabella, but the
officials declined to give the exact fig
ures
Surprise was expressed at the dis
patches from Washington intimatng
that the American minister at Caracas,
Mr., Bowen, was seeking to prevent the
ratification OF the agreement which the
council Of foreign bondholders contend
is entirely in accord with the Washing
ton protocol. The British and German
foreign offices have been consulted, and
agree that the bonds are entirely with
In their rights and the provisions OF
the protocol.
The council of foreign bondholders
has been working for g guaranteed
payment since the PRONUNCIATION OF the
protocol, first on a scheme which pro-
vlded for a settlement OF the Venezu-
elan indebtedness to all countries, but
this plan was abandoned by the with
drawal Of the French last October.
Thereafter the British and German
bondholders unite and secure President
Castro's agreement to allocate a por-
tion OF the revenues OF La Guayra and
Puerto Cabello, to which Minister
Bowen objected. Since this frustra-
tlon IN January the bondholdcrs have
been at work on the present agreement
which provides for the issue Of new
per cent bonds 10 cover the debt
OF the Anglo German bondholders,
amounting, including arrears, to about
S2S, 900, 900
Gen Antonio velutini, President
Castro's fiscal agent acted I'm behalf Of
Venezuela IN the present negotiations,
while the council OF foreign bondhold-
ers and the disconto Gesells Chaft re-
spectyely represented the British and
German bondholders,
BOWEN GETS NO REPLY.
Washington, March 22,-The state de-
prtment has heard nothing from Min
lister Bowen &c Indicate that the Ven
ezuelan government has made answer
to his last proposition to arbltrate the
American claims, and Il is supposed
that the answer when Il does come viii
be 10 the effect that the Venezuelan
government insists on awaiting the
final account OF It's courts upon the
pending asphalt case, II viii then re-
main for the state department to deter
mine how long II is prepared TO await
this judicious action. The difficulty Is
that the Venezuelan government has
refused the application Of the asphalt
company. supported by Minister Bow.
en-, TO revert TO the status existing be-
fore the appointment OF a receiver In
the asphalt case and allow the COM
pany to re-possess itself OF It's prop
erty.
As Il Is, the receiver In taking out
large quantities OF asphalt from Ber-
mudez lake, the proceeds from which
are going into the Venezuelan treasury
to the great financial loss OF the COM
pany, which Is making daily represen-
tatlons on the subject to the state de-
partment