Show BOWENS BOWEN S ULTIMATUM venezuelan situation reaches a critical stage herbert W bowen venezuela a rep in the negotiations at washington for a settlement of the claims against that country has sent through the british ambassador at washington what amounts practically to an ultimatum to the allied powers of great britain germany and italy regarding their insistence for J prefer their claims claim s a against g al n s alre venezuela n e z u el a 1 antee note received by the brit british IS it amb assa dor from mr bowen the latter refuses point blank the proposition faor a 20 and 10 per cent division on the ground that to recognize the principle it em bodies it would be absolutely offensive to modern civilization in view of the fact that the negotiators are agreed on all save the question of preferential treatment the ambassador is informed that venezuela has decided to submit that question to the hague arbitration tribunal the acceptance of this prop position venezuela contends carries with it a raising of the blockade the general understanding being that the blockade would end when the at washington had reached an agreement in suggesting that the question of preferential payment be referred to the hague it Is understood that mr bowen does goes so in view of the fact that the question is the only one that remains in dispute the allies are ad that venezuela is desirous that all negotiators shall stand by what had been already agreed on |