The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-04-21
Placed q Steamer and Sent to n
Serve a Twenty-Year Sentence.
ACCUSED OF BEING A SPY
MOVE FINALLY MADE BY GRESHAM
TO SECURE AN EXPLANATION.
EmbassadOr Eustis Instructed to Ex-
cans Concession Probably stolen.


WASHINGTON, April 20.-News has been
received to the effect that the French au-
thorities in Madagascar have put ex-United
States Consul Waller aboard steamer and
sent him under guard to France. He is
under sentence of twenty years imprison-
ment on a charge of being spy in the
interest of the Hovas in Madagascar,
against whom the French have been waging
war, which sentence was imposed by a
court-martial at Tamatave. While this ac-
ton on the part of the French government
will only add to the amount of indemnity
it will be called on to pay, should Mr.. Wal
ler's friends show that the charge is base
less, it will facilitate the efforts of the
Department of State to fully develop the
facts in the case. as it can now commune
cate directly with United States Embas-
sador Eustis, instead of being obliged to
adopt the tedious course of acting through
an inferior consular officer in Madagascar,
out of reach of cable communication. Mr..
Eustis has been instructed to pursue the
matter to end and make a thorough ex-
animation of all the facts attending the
punishment of this American citizen. He
will also make a special examination into
the legality, under treaty stpulations. of
the trial of citizen of friendly nation
by court-martial, instead of by the regular
civil tribunals, as is customary and perhaps
absolutely essential. Moreover, the case
may involve the right of France to exercise
jurisdiction over the internal affairs of Mad
agascar, from which she appears to have
been expressly excluded by the treaty of
1885, which gave her only jurisdiction over
the foreign relations of Madagascar.
The Washington friends of Waller are
bringing all the influence possible to bear
in his behalf on the State Department.
Among other prominent men who have dis
played an interest in the ease is Senator
Voorhees,, who has had interviews with
Secretary Gresham and has presented to
him in strong light the Importance and
propriety of the United States investigat-
ing the question ofsWaller's treatment. Sem
ator Voorhees, said he had found Mr.. Gresh-
am is disposed to have it probed to the
bottom. The Secretary stated that he had
already placed in the possession of EN-
bassador Eustis all the facts and had given
him instructions to thoroughly investigate
the case.
There can be no doubt that the Waller
incident will prove to be one of the most
difficult that this administration has had
to contend with. The principles involved
are of the utmost Importance and should
the statements of Walters friends be well
founded the government of the United
States, under no circumstances, admit
the correctness of the action of the French
officials without thereby admitting its in
disposition or inability to protect our citi-
zens in foreign countries
An interesting question which has arisen
at this stage is what has become of Mr..
Walters concessions. He had an absolute
grant of about two hundred miles of most
valuable lands in Madagascar, abounding in
rubber trees and other tropical products
which he had partially arranged to market.
1t is we'll known here that every effort has
been made to dispossess him by other hold
ers of concessions, who desired to seize on
these lands But, far as the facts are
known, Mr. Waller obtained these conces-
sions in a perfectly legitimate manner and
his title must be protected. Our government
has uniformly held, notably in cases aris-
ing in Central America, that an American
citizen cannot be dispossessed of conces-
sion so long as he complied with its terms,
by any revolution in the government of the
country where it may be situated. The rule
of international law is clear as to the pre-
servation of the individuals title in such
cases. and having laid down this doctrine
in our relations with the weaker nations of
this continent, the State Department can
scarcely do less than maintain it as against
France.
The information reaching Washington
gives the details of the charge under which
Waller was convicted as a spy. The French
had determined to make a descent on one
of the large Hovas towns. 1t was to be
a night attack, and was intended to be a
decisive stroke. The arrangements for the
move were guarded with the utmost secrecy.
In some way, however, Waller learned of the
French movement, and is said to have
conveyed full information to the Hovas.
The latter quickly armed the threatened
town. SO that when the French soldiers ap-
peared they were met by an effective re-
sistance. Instead of taking the place by
surprise, they found every one alert for
the attack The alleged treachery was
closely investigated, and. it is claimed,
traced to Waller. Aside from the chagrin
to which the French forces were put by
having their plans miscarry. it is said to
have seriously retarded the progress of the
French expedition in Madagascar.
The French ambassador at Washington,
M. Patenotre, has not yet been Informed of
the Waller proceedings. Mr. Gresham is
dealing with the French Minister of For
eign Affairs, through our ambassador at
Paris.