The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-08-22
Intimntion that n PeremptOry Demand
Release OF the Ex-Consul.
INDEMNITY MAY BE ASKED
ALSO RESTORATION OF wALLER's
CONCESSION IN MADAGASCAR.
State Department Said to he Exasper-
ated by Frances Delay-Statement
from Librarian Spofford.

WASHINGTON. Aug. 21.-There is good
authority for the statement that per-
emptory demand will be made by the
United States upon France for the release
of ex-Consul Waller. of Tamatave, AMI
that satisfactory indemnity will be re-
quired for his arrest and imprisonment
with probable request for a commission
to determine Walters rights in Madagas-
car The discussion of the case between
the American and French diplomats has
reached a point where 1t is said there is
little else for the United States to do,
owing to the fact that repeated requests
for a copy cf the charges and testimony
upon which Waller was convicted have
not been furnished by the French govern
ment 1t was said at the State Department
that the delay in the Waller case had
been very annoying TO the officials and
especially to ambassador Eustis. The dila-
tory action of France in this matter is
regarded as indicating that the French
government has very poor case and will
be unable To resist the demands made by
the United States for the restoration of
Waller to liberty and indemnity for his
losses condition which makes the de-
lay Of France more aggravating Is the
fact that the department Is aware OF the
serious illness of Waller in prison and
that his further confinement is harmful
to his health. international questions gen
orally move slowly, but the delay In pro-
ducing papers and testimony in the case
of Waller has been of a very exasperating
kind and has resulted in sharp pressure
by United States officials to bring about
a sett ement. the belief being that great
deal of the delay has been largely UNI
necessary. Some of the reports which have
been received at the department indicate
that the treatment of Waller has been un-
just and his arrest and trial a breach Of
international comfy.
With reference TO the criticisms which
have been made from time to time concern
ing the departments conduct OF the case, 1t
can be stated that Mr.. Walters friends
here are satisfied that the case is receiving
the most careful and jealous attention of
the department. 1t is learned on the best
authority that, Notwithstanding Secretary
Olney's absence from the city. he has given
personal attention to ~the conduct of the
negotiations looking to Mr.. Wallers release
and restoration TO his rights. Furthermore,
the President himself ssas manifested a con-
cern. reg arding the matter which he would
not give il he did not feel that the case
was unusual in complications involved.
Enough is known regarding the progress of
the negotiations to justify the statement
that the department is confident that they
will result In the release of Mr.. Waller,
with indemnity for his Imprisonment. and
the restoration of his property rights. There
is also authority for the statement that the
department feels assured that Waller's bare
release could have been secured before now,
but it was felt that this would be accom-
plished at the risk Of losing the indemnity
for Imprisonment and protection of Mr..
Waller in his property rights in Madagas-
car. AS the money interests involved are
placed by no one in the department at less
than a million dollars. the case has been
handled on the theory that it was better
that Mr. Waller should continue to endure
his Incarceration for few months than risk
losing his claim. ambassador Eustis has
found 1t impracticable to secure more of the
record in France than the specification OF
the charges, but it is understood that a
promise has been made TO secure the full
record from Madagascar