Mr. Bowen to Mr. Hay.

[Telegram.—Paraphrase.]

(Mr. Bowen reports that he has received the following note from the Venezuelan minister for foreign affairs:

The Venezuelan Government requests you, as the temporary representative of British and German interests, to propose to Great Britain and Germany that the [Page 792] present difficulty that has arisen respecting the manner of settling the claims which have been presented for alleged damages and injuries to British and German subjects during the civil war be submitted to arbitration.

Mr. Bowen requests to be advised whether Mr. Hay will forward the above to the Governments at interest, and will advise him promptly when their replies are received.)