The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-03-23
WALLER IMPRISONED
The Distinguished COlored Pol
itician of Kansas
John L. Waller, Recent U. S.
Consul to Madagascar,
ARRESTED BY FRANCE.
He is Tried by Court Martial
and { IS Twenty Years.
His Offense Was Recognition Of
the Native Government.

FORT LOUIS Island OF MaurltlQS, NJ aFCn
23.-John i. Waller, formerly United
States consul at Tsmative, Island of
Madagas car, has been tried before a
court martial by the French military
authorities, has been found guilty of
having been in correspondence with the
Hovas, and has been sentenced to twenty
years imprisonment
On April 20, 1894, Mr.. Waller secured
a concession from the Hovas cover n
ment of the whole of the southern part
of the island of Madagascar, and this
concession was obtained in spite of the
repeated protests of the French residents
and the French colony generally Ac-
cording to the French pioneer colonists
all the natiOnalities engaged in the India
rubber trade considered that their vested
interest had been injured by the conces-
sion to MIR. Waller. The latter did not
share in their opinion.
Tamative is the chief port of entry in
Madagascar, and India rubber is among
the principal exports of the great island,
which also has extensive forests, contain
ing much valuable timber suitable for
furniture. France hitherto has claimed
a prOtectOrate over the island of NADIA
gascar and Great Britain has recognized
it. But the native government of NADIA
gascar repudiates the Freuch claim to
protectorate and the government of
France is now sending TO Madagascar
large expedition to subdue the Hovas.
1t may also be added that the last two
American cOnsuls at Tamative have pre-
sented their credentials to the Aiadagas-
car government, thereby causing some
friction between themselves and the
French residents The concession
granted to Mr.. Waller is admitted to be
a most valuable one, as it is in the great
rubber district of Fort Dauphin, on the
south coast of the island, and the terms
under which the ex-consul obtained it
were very much more reasonable than
any pre- viously granted in Madagascar.
Moreover the concession is by far the
largest and is said to be in every way
the most important surface concession
ever granted in Madagascar. 1t covers
an area of 225 square miles or more than
five times the area of New York city.
The lands in addition to producing rub
Der, tree and vines in vast quantities
abound in such fine timbers as ebony,
mahogany, rosewood and they are ad-
mirably adapted to the cultivation of tea,
coffee, sugar and vanilla.
When Mr.. Waller obtained his conces-
sion he announced that he would stop
the destruction of rubber trees and vines
by the natives in their method of getting
rubber and that he would prevent the
producing capacity of his concession
OF the rubber trees extracted in d scien-
titc manner. He also proposed to enter
largely into the cultivation of the rubber
plants.
The. Scientific American and the E!ec.
trical Review, in commenting upon the
discovery of the rubber district, said the
discovery almost constituted a prospec-
tive commercial revolution. From this
1t will be seen that there is no doubt that
WallAr'S IL ol11o hi
one, and in view of the opposition he has
met with upon the part of the French it
is not astonishing that he is now in
trouble.
Advices from Antananarivo, under date
CT May 81, 1894, announced that the
French residents there had entered a
formal protest against the concession se-
cured by Mr.. Waller, declaring that
France would refuse to recognize any
concessions made to foreigners without
her permission.
Early in June last the New York
World published a letter from Antanan-
arivo, dated April 21, in which Mr..
Underwood Harvey, editor of the NADIA
gascar News, asked the World to convey
to the American people a message say
ing: ut is time Tor the great American
government TO put its foot down and
say that American enterprise in this
country shall no longer be trampIed by
French bullying"
This was result of the action of the
representatives. of France in Madagascar
in denyif@Sihe Malagasys' governments
right to make land grants to Am erican
citizens without first obtaining the sane
tion of the French resident general
AdyIces from Tamative, under date of
December ., of last year, published here
on January 13, of the present year, said:
Among the most provoking of outrages
committed by the French marines lin
Madagascar) was that upon the persons
and property of two Americans. one of
whom was ex-Consul John L. Waller of
Kansas, in the home of an American
named John Dublin.
MIR. Waller was at the time seated in
the doorway of his friends house smolk-
ing, when three French marines. having
frightened away all the natives in the
neighborheod, approached. They caught
sight of Mr.. Dublin's wife. and nrohahIv
mistaking Mr. Waller for Mr. Dublin.
1nsultIngly demanded that he deliver
Mrs. Dublin to them. Mr.. Waller imme.
dlately commanded them to leave the
premises.
They refused to go and further de-
manded that Mr.. Waller supply them
with cigars. This he also refused and
commanded them to leave. One of the
marines became angry and wanted tc
know why MI. Waller did not run. and il
he were not afraid of Frenchmen
Mr. Waller told him he would not run
RoE was he afraid. The marine drew bis