The Salt Lake Herald

WASHINGTON, Feb. 10.-Mr. Bowen has formally accepted Great Britain's protocol, framed to secure a reference of the Venezuela dispute to The Hague arbitration tribunal. He carried his note of acceptance to the British embassy today and personally presented it to Ambassador Herbert. He expressed the opinion that it was a document of a high order from a diplomatic point of view.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 10.-Great Britain's protocol has been formally accepted by Mr. Bowen for Venezuela. The German and Italian conventions are still undergoing revision, but assurances are given in authoritative quarters that they eventually will be made to conform in all essential respects to that of the British ambassador.

Owing to the illness of the British ambassador, Mr. Bowen called at the embassy today and personally signified to the ambassador his approval of the agreement. He then presented his formal note of acceptance and it has been cabled to the London foreign office.

It appears that the insertion in the German protocol of the provision for advance payment of the original $340,000 demanded of President Castro in the German ultimatum was the result of a misunderstanding on the part of the German foreign office of certain steps here. Through the activity of the German minister, Baron Speck von Sternberg, this point is being cleared up.

The Italian ambassador's instructions are such that he can make little headway until he knows what is contained in the German protocol. He, however, has made a rough draft of his convention, and it will take only a short while after the completion of the German convention for Signor Mayor Desplanches to put the finishing touches to his protocol.

Mr. Bowen has done everything possible to conclude the negotiations with dispatch, in order that the blockade might be raised, and he tonight expressed his belief that he was receiving in this effort the sincere support of all the negotiators. If a serious hitch shall occur at the eleventh hour, Mr. Bowen is confident that it will be through no fault of any one of the representatives of the allies here.

Should the protocol of Germany and Italy, when presented to him, contain provisions not in line with those of the British, the negotiations must be prolonged until a satisfactory arrangement can be reached.

Not Optimistic in Washington.

Washington, Feb. 10.-The optimistic feeling cherished in Berlin touching the Venezuelan negotiations does not find a reflex here. Mr. Bowen and the German and Italian representatives are far apart, though it never has been thought that the gap could not be closed by the exhibition of moderation on both sides.

While waiting to hear from their home offices, the allies' representatives here are in constant communication with Mr. Bowen. The personal relations between the negotiators are now pleasant, and it is a matter of regret to them that they cannot make better headway in their effort to adjust the Venezuelan trouble.

Mr. Bowen is working out this great problem alone, so far as his own side is concerned, but notwithstanding he is opposed by three exceedingly capable diplomats here, it is still believed that he will succeed in making terms honorable and satisfactory to Venezuela if he is not crossed by some influences in Caracas.

As tending to remove friction between the allies and refute the idea that preferential treatment has been shown in other matters than cash payments, the announcement is now made that Mr. Bowen has agreed that upon the conclusion of the controversy between Venezuela and the allies, all the trade treaties which existed between them shall come again into force without further negotiations. It is expected that this concession will go far toward relieving an apprehension on the part of the allies that they would suffer from commercial retaliation after the war.

Venezuela May Object.

London, Feb. 10.-The officials of the German embassy here say that no difficulties regarding the Venezuelan settlement have arisen so far as Germany is concerned. They add what is now under discussion consists solely of the German and Italian contentions regarding the claims admitted by Venezuela, prior to the present disturbance, to be valid, and which it is contended it would be absurd to submit to The Hague court.

From the commencement of the negotiations Germany refused to arbitrate these first-line claims and their inclusion in the protocol created a discussion which the embassy officials do not consider to be a bar to a settlement, though it causes delay. Germany and Italy were fully satisfied with the cash guarantee and are stipulating nothing remotely connected with Monroeism.

Great Britain's first-line claims are apparently not so similar to those of Germany and Italy, but these countries have the approval of the British government in their present attitude.

Some uneasiness exists regarding Minister Bowen's powers to bind the government of Venezuela. The allies have consulted the state department at Washington on this subject, but no answer has yet been received.