The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-08-22
DAMAGES FROM FRANCE.
Washington GO~ernmeht VIII Press
Claims for Indemnity TO Waller.

Washington Government Will Press
Claims for Indemnity 10 Waller. +,
Washington. Aug. 2l-The case of John
L. Waller. ex-consul of the United States
at Tamative. Madagascar. and now in
prison in France. has assumed a phase
that justifies the government In the be-
lief that Walters days of confinement
are nearly ended and that he will soon
be restored to liberty. 1t can be stated
on the highest authority that the only
reason why Ambassador Eustis has not
been instructed TO demand Walters i'm
mediate release is that such a course
might weaken the claim for indemnity.
which the United States proposes to
make against France for the confscation
OF the rubber concession in Madagascar.
The President and Secretary Olney are
now thoroughly satisfied that Walters
military trial was not conducted in a
proper manner, and that his conviction
of the crime of treason was based on the
himsiest evidence. 1t will be a matter
of very short time. few weeks perhaps,
before Secretary Olney will instruct Am
ibassador Eustis to secure Walters release
and make claim for Indemnity against
the French government on account of the
confiscation of his concession.
Instructions were sent to Mr. Eustis
July 81 to press his emphatic request for
copy of the record Of the evidence on
which the ex-consul was declared a felpn.
Mr.. Eustis failed to secure the record and,
on Aug. ), further instructions were sent
him even more emphatic than the first.
Communications received from the am
bassador tell of his efforts to secure copy
of the record from the French ministry for
foreign affairs and of his several failures
through the temporizing policy pursued by
1nra DELAY
and repeated requests he has been furn-
ished copy of the charges and specifica-
tons and of the sentence imposed upon
Waller. He then renewed his demand for
a copy of the evidence and was at first
told that it would be granted very soon,
as the record had been received in France.
But, according to his latest advices to
this government the French ministry has
told him, with that lack of consistency
which appears to have marked the entire
negotiations, that the record of evidence
is in Madagascar. and cannot be furnish
ed without great delay.
The statement that this government had
done all that could be done to bring the
Waller case to speedy adjustment is un-
questionable. The demand for Walters re-
lease would have been made this month If
the state department had not been actua-
ted by a desire to obtain for him the in
demnity due for the confiscation- of the
taken by the President and Secretary
Olney, compliance with demand for Wal
ler's immediate release would practically
have ended the case and left little ground
for a claim for indemnity. 1t is the desire
of the government to make its efforts to
secure the freedom of Waller dependent
on the intention to obtain indemnity and
thus make the French do full justice to
the imprisoned man. AS matters now
stand Walters prospects are very hopeful,
and his release is assured, even il the
indemnity fail to be forthcoming.
The amount of the indemnity to be asked
will be more than $10OO,000. The exact sum
cannot be ascertained and the probabilities
are that it has not yet been determined on.
The report that Waller is dying of con-
sumption in prison is giving the state de-
partment some uneasiness, but the infor-
nation is not believed to be strictly ac-
curate, as the latest letters from Waller
said the chills and fever from which he
suffered had left him and that his health
was much improved.