VENEZUELA PROTOCOLS.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 837, 11 March 1903, Page 4

VENEZUELA PROTOCOLS.

THE TERMS ARRANGED,

(By Telegraph.) (Per R.M.S. Sierra, at Auckland,)

San Francisco, Feb. 20.

The following is the full test of the protocol referring the Venezuelan difficulty to arbitration : Washington, Feb. 14.—The text of the protocols, which were signed last night by Mr Bowen and representatives of the allies, were made public to day. The text of British protocol is as follows : ■■ Whereas certain differences have arisen between the United Stateß of Venezuela and Great Britain in connection with the claims of British subjects against the Venezuelan Government, the undersigned, Mr Herbert W. Bowen, duly authorised thoreto by the Government of Venezuela, and His Excellency the Right Hon. Sir Michael H. Herbert, K.C.M.G., C. 8., His Brittanic Majesty’s Ambassador Extra ordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United States, have agreed as follows : Article 1 : The Venezuelan Government declare that they recognise in principle the justness of the claims which have been preferred by His Majesty’s Govrrnment on behalf of the British subjects. Article 2 : The Venezuelan Government will satisfy at once, by payment in cash or its equivalent, claims of British subjects which amount to about five thousand five hundred pounds (£5500) arising out of the seizure and plundering of British vessels, and outrages on British crews, and the maltreatment and false imprisonment of British subjects. Article 3 : The Venezuelan and British Government agree that other British claims, including claims by British subjects other than those dealt with in Article 41 hereof, including those preferred be railway companies, shall, unless otherwise satisfied, by referred to a Mixed Committee constituted in the manner defined in Article 14 of this protocol, and which shall examine claims and decide upon the amount to be awarded in satisfaction of each claim. The Venezuelan Government admit their liability in cases where the claim is for injuries to or wrongful seizure of property, and consequently the questions which tho Mixed Commission will have to decide in such cases will merely be (a) whether tho injury took place and whether the seizuro was wrongful, and (b) if so, what amount of compensation is due. In other cases ' claims shall be referred to a Mixed Commission without reservation. Article 4 : The Mixed Commission shall consist of ; one Venezuelan member and one British member. In each case where they come to an agreement their decision shall be final. In cases of disagreement the claim shall bo referred to the deoision of an umpire nominated by the President of the United States of America. Article 5 : The Venezuelan Government being unwilling 1 to provide a sum sufficient for payment within a reasonable time of the claims ' specified in Article 3, and similar claims preferred by other Governments, undertakes to assign to the British Government, on the first day of March, 1903, for this purpose, and to alienate to no oher purpose, 30 per cent in monthly payments of , the Customs revenues of LaGuayra and ‘ Puerto Cabello. In case of failure to parry out this undertaking, Belgian officials shall bo placed in charge of the Customs of the two ports, and shall administer them until the liabilities of the Venezuelan Government in respect to the abovementioned claims shall have been dis ' charged. Any question as to distribution of Customs revenues is to be assigned, and as to the rights of Great Britain, Germany', and Italy to a separate settlement of their claims shall be determined, in default of arrangement, by the tribunal at the Hague, to which any other Power may appeal. Ponding the decision of the Hague tribunal, tho said 30 per cent of Customs of the ports of Puerto Cabello and LaGuayra are to be paid over to representatives of the Bank of England at Caracas. Article 6: Tho Venezuelan Government further undertakes to enter into fresh arrangements respecting tho external debt of Venezuela, with a view to satisfaction of the claims of the bondholders. This arrangement shall include tho definition of soureos from which the necessary payments are to bo provided. Article 7: The Venezuelan and British Governments agree that inasmuch it may bo contended that the establishment of the blockade of Venezuelan ports by the British naval forces has ipso facto created a seat of war between Venezuela and Great Britain, and that any treaty existing between tho two countries has been thereby abrogated, it shall be recorded in an exchange of notes between the undersigned that the convention between Great Britain and Venezuela of October 29, 1854, which adopted and confirmed the mutatis mujgndis treaty of April 18, 1824, between ,Gmat Britain and the State of Colombia, shall be desmed to be renewed and confirmed, or provisionally renewed and confirmed pending the conclusion of a new treaty of amity and commerce. Article 8 ; Immediately upon the signing of this protocol, arrangements will be made by His Majesty’s Government, in concert with the Governments of Germany and Italy, to raise the blockade of Venezuelan ports. His Majesty s Government will be prepared to restore vessels of the Venezuelan navy which have been seized, and further td release any other vessels captured under the Venezuelan flag on receipt of a guarantee from tho Venezuelan Government that they will hold His Majesty’s Government indemnified in respect of any proceedings which might be taken agams t them by the owners of such ships or of goods oil hoard them. Article 9: The treaty oi arpity and commerce of October 29, 1834, having been confirmed in accordance with the terms of Article 7 of this protocol, the Government of Venezuela will be happy to renew diplomatic relations wicn His Majesty's Government.” Bone in duplicate at Washington at this 13th day of February, 1903. (Signed) Hkrt. W. Bowen, MrcuAEL H. Herbert. With few exceptions the German and Italian protocols correspond with that of Great Britain.