The sun., 1895-03-25
OUR PRISONED EX-CONSUL.
TRoUBLE uITH FRANCE a <BOUT mrs
MADAGASCAR COECESSIOM

TIE Unitcd state. Have Never Recognized
the french rroteetorste Over TIE Isiasd,
but by the Treaty OF 1881 Have Recoe.
nized the SovereiEuty or the Oueen..
WARRINGTON, March 24.-It seems likely that
the trouble over the Waller affair may require
our Government to review thoroughly its
diplomacy in regard Tn Madagascar. and 10 de-
eide what view 1t will take OF French authority
there. We have n Consul, Mr.. T.. T. wetter,
from whom the particulars may como OF the
grounds OF the recent sentence Of Mr.. Waller.
by court martial. to imprisonment Our Gov
ernment has never made any formal treaty
recognition of tho French protectorate there.
Great Britain, In consideration OF the acknowl-
edRment by France OF her claims in Zanzibar.
formally recognized. on Aug. 8, 1890. the French
protoctorate over Madagascar, and conceded
that tho exequaturs of British representatives in
tho islands must be applied for through the
French Resident-Cencral. But the treaty Of
1881 made by tho United States with tho pres
snt Queen Ranayalo Manjaka III). which
recognized her sovereignty over tho island, has
not been abrosated. although there is pre-
sumably no purpose to ignore what has occurred
In the island since.
Some years ago. an American war vessel. on
visiting port Of Madagascar, was taken to task
by the French officers because II did not salute
their flag. The American commander answered
to the effect, as is understood, that tho United
States recognized the Malagasy Government
as the one In power, and that no other reuuirsd
q salute under the circumstances. 1t is said
that on reporting his action to the authorities
At Washington, II was formally approved. To
make the point still moro conspicuous the story
goes on to say that ono occasion an officer
com andng one Of our vessels, who did salute
tho French flag at MAZDA gascar, was reproved
20 for doing by the Washington authorities.
Now, however. II Is quito apparent that
1t would 10 difficult to assert tho full indepen-
dencc OF Madagascar, in view OF what she
herself has done in acknowledging tho protec-
torate OF France. 1t is n historic fact that on
Dec. II, 1885, as the result of carried on by
France against her the Queen agreed that
France should represent her in all external re-
lstions. That is certainly not ordinary stip-
ulation between two countries. each of which
remains as independent as the other.
Besides. IN the subsequent Interpretation of
that treaty. France has succeeded In enforcing
provisions Which the Queen had declared to be
encroaohmeni" upon her sovereign rights This
view of the actually existing protectorate.
Indeed. IT is precisely out of these disputes to
G sn Of ,na the both the Mser
concern US. france claimed larger: territory
AROUND the Diego Suarez Bay. which she had
secured as naval station, than the Malagasy
Government considered AZ fairly belonging to
years age. the Hovn Government made a
grant to an English company. which was to
loan 81 UOO.0 900, OF the right to collect customs
and coin money. In order to secure tho lenders.
France, however. compelled tho canceling OF
that contract and the substitution of an agree
ment with tho Compton d Escompte for n loan
Of S3.O00,000. giving right to secure it by tho
customs duties of six ports.
But there are two matter in which the ques- |
zion as to what Is implied by "eXtcrior rela- |
tons" Is OF direct concern to the United States.
One Is that of the authority to issue exeQuaturs
and as to that. some years ago, may DO re- |
mcmbered. there was q serious trouble arising |
Consul at that time. The point now urgent |
is tho claim Of the Hova Government that tho |
representation of Madagascar by France in ex- |
terror relations does not SO apply to concessions
made to foreign residents in the island for |
purely business purposes as to require their ap- |
proval by the French Resident General.
In the case of Mr.. Waller a concession was |
be Of 225 square miles In the rubber district on |
tho south coast The French people engaged In |
trade there greatly objected, on the ground that |
this would ruin the rubber interests of other |
nationalities. including their own. The persist |
ence OF the Queens Government in this con- |
France to cary on hostilites.
The course Of events In tho island will make |
It not at all strange to find France at some day |
acquiring still more complets control in NADIA
Cascar Prince Henri d'Orleans may have been |
prophetic in declaring that there 10 now France
awaiting US In the Indian Ocean," Meanwhile
poor Mr.. Waller has been punished for his part
have come as to tho right OF Jurisdiction claimed
IN his case and as to the particular offences
charged against him. There Ia plenty of scope
Tor moro exact facts on these points.