New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-08-25
OF WALLER
PROGRESS OF HIS TROUBLES WITH THE
FRENCH IN MADAGASCAR.
,Jrs FRIEND MR.. BRAY TELLS OF THE HIGH
HANDED ACTION OF TIE FRENCH-A vALUA-
sENTED - DELIBERATE VIOLATION OF
TREATY AGREEMENTS AND A FARCl-

sENTED - DELIBERATE VIOLATION OF
TREATY AGREEMENTS AND FARCl-
CAL TRIAL roR WALLER
rBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBuNsl
Washington Aug 24-It seems to be probable
that new and important developments in the
Waller case will soon be forthcoming. brief
review of the case now will, therefore. be timely
and interesting Many Of the facts hereinafter
recited have not hitherto been published. and
some OF them throw important as we'll as new
light on an international controversy which has
grown from comparatively small seed to omi-
nous and threatening proportions
The seed was planted when the Hova Govern
Inent in Madagascar granted an exequatur In 1881
10 John L. Waller, who had been commissioned
as Consul of the United States at Tamatave.
Nadagascar This argered the French resident
general France having set UP a protectorate
over Madagascar. which has not even yet been
recognized by the United States. In applying to
the Hova Government for his exequatur, Mr..
Waller acted in harmony with the consular repre-
eentatives OF Germany and Italy, and his action
was sanctioned and approved by the Department
of State So anxious was the resident general TO
have Mr. Waller apply to him for an exequatur
and thereby accord quasi recognition to the
French protectorate that pecunary inducements
were held ont to him. The steadfast refusal OF
Consul Waller to comply with French desires
and accede TO French official demands did not
conduce to his personal comfort or official happi-
ness and yet he managed to discharge MS oIlicial
duties in manner that won and retained the
approval of the State Department, and his official
record Is said 10 be clear and clean
WALTERS TROUBLES BEGIN.
In 1893 Consul Waller was superseded. His sue
cessor arrived and took charge in January 1891
Mr.. Waller then applied TO the Hova Govern
ment for lease Of certain public lands which
lease was granted on March 10. 1884 over and
against the protest of the French resident-gen-
eral From that date MI Waller was marked
man The concession which he mad optained
covering 1A0O0 acres OF land, was regarded as
exceedingly valuable; the French had long oeiore
set covetous eyes upon it, ana the french au'hori-
ties in the island had determined. by nook or
by crook. to obtain possession OF II. Much Oh the
land Is rich and fertile and In great request for
agricultural purposes. while the forests aoouho
in mahogany. ebony and rosewood but most
Valuable or ALL are the innumerable rubber trees.
whose yield is unexceled in quality except D.
those of the Para region OF Brazil. These sew
eral elements OF wealth we're valuable In the
aggregate that shrewd and consei vative capi'ai-
lists stood ready TO furnish money to develop the
Concession ON a capitalization OF $ovoo'Voo
The French authorities were Determined 10
wrest this concession from the American c'''~e"
who had obtained II. They first attemp'eu u
brbe Mr. Waller TO rcnqush 1t by onerihs 10
approve a concession fer 1880 acres ana 10 i"'-
n!sh money to develop and make II producuNe'
This offer being refused, the French Hes'oen'-
General took 1t upon himself to declare the o'is
tnai lease null and void because 1t had not peeh
approved by him. This In Nat vioiatoh Vi
the treaty of 1885 between France and MAoAsaS
car, by virtue Of which the former was 10 pre-
side over the foreign relations OF Maoasaso"'
without interfering in tire internal adm'h's'i"
tlon OF the country" Ii was also an at'ei"p' -
deny to citizens OF the United states the rs"''
and privileges guaranteed to them by tne 'e"''
Of lss; between the United States and Ma"as"''
car. the terms OF which were fully opserVeo 10
the execution OF the lease to Waller.
FRENCH PROMISES VIOLATED
Moreover the action attempted ac'o" "
the French Resident-Gene al was IN direc' ooi'
travention Of the Interpretation given 10 '"e
Franco -Malagassy treaty Of 1856 by M. de r'e,
cnft Minister Of Foreign Affairs at the '''ne u