Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-04-20
WALLER SENT TO FRANCE
Developments in the Case of the Ex-Oonsul
to Madagascar.
Ambn ssadOr Eustls Has Been instruct
ed to Make Full Inquiry
Into the Affair.

News has reached Washington to the ef-
feet that the French authorities in NADIA
gascar have put ex-United States Consul
Waller aboard a steamer and sent him
under guard to France. He is under sem
tence of twenty years. Imprisonment on n
charge of being spy in the interest of the
Hovas in Madagascar, against whom the
French have been wagng war. which SEN
tence was imposed by a court-martial at
Tamatave. While this action on the part
of the French government will only add to
the amount of indemnity it will be called
upon to pay should Mr.. Waller's friends
show that the charge upon which he was
sentenced is baseless. it will still facilitate
the efforts of the Department of State to
fully develop the facts in the case, az it
can now communicate directly with United
States Ambassador Eustis instead of being
Obliged to adopt the tedious course of act
ing through an inferior officer in NADIA
gascar, out of reach Of cable communica-
ton.
Instructions to Mr.. Eustis.
Mr.. Eustis has been instructed to pursue
the matter to an end, and make a thorough
examination Of all of the facts attending
the punishment of this American citizen.
He will also make a special examination
into the legality under treaty stipula tions
of the trial of citizen of a friendly nation
by court-martfal, instead of by the regular
civil tribunals, as is customary and per-
haps absolutely essential. Moreover, the
case may involve the right of France to
exercise jurisdiction over the internal af-
fairs Of Madagascar, from which she ap-
pears to have been expressly excluded by
the treaty Of 1885, which gave her only
Jurisdiction over the foreign relations of
Madagascar.
Greaf Rrftnfn,a E1Osff2an
1t is true that Great Britain has practi-
cally admitted the French claim in this
respect, but the United States has never
yet found 1t expedient to do SO. though 1t
had ample opportunity when the French
government gave us trouble in the matter
of issuing exequaturs to our consular off,
GERS. complete official statement of the
facts in Mr.. Walters case has not yet
reached Washington. When 1t does 1t will
be promptly forwarded to Mr.. Eustis. and.
meanwhile. he will be furnished with the
preliminary statements already obtained
for his guidance In pressing the case.
The Malngasy Want Our Friendshfp.
Mail advices from Madagascar are to the
effect that efforts are being made to induce
the United States government to exercise
its good offices to have the differences be-
tween France and Madagascar submitted
to arbitration. The editor of the Madagas-
car News has requested several prominent
men in this country to use their best ef-
forts to bring about this result. He says
the Malagasy do not deny the just rights
Of France, nor Is there any desire to place
any obstacles in the way Of French COM
mercial enterprise. The Malagasy, he says.
are only struggling for the preservation of
their independence and the retention of
their fatherland. In his opinion, 1t is
specially fitting for the United States to
suggest arbitration of the existing differ
ences, especially as this government has
never been consulted with regard to the
French claims. which If enforced would Sc
riously affect American commerce with
Madagascar.