Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-03-23
A FRENCH REVENGE
Ex-Consul Waller Sentenced at Tam
atave.
HAD SECURED VALUABLE CONCESSIONS
|' 'Enmity of His Business Rivals
Aroused.
CONFLICT OF AUTHORITY

PORT LOUIS, Island of Mauritius, March
23.-Mr. John l.. Waller, formerly United
States consul at Tamatave, Island of NADIA
gascar, has been tried before a eourt-mar-
tial by the French military authorities and
has been found guilty Of having been in
correspondence with the Hovas and was
sentenced to twenty years Imprisonment.
MIR. wALLER's CONCESSIONS.
They Are the Cause Of His Present
Trouble.
On April 90 1894, Mr.. Waller secured
concession from the Hovas government of
the whole of the southern part of the
Island of Madagascar, and this concession
was obtained in spite Of the repeated pro-
tests of the French residents and the
French colony generally. According to the
French pioneer coionists, all the national
tiles engaged in the India rubber trade
considered that their vested interests had
been injured by the concession to Mr.. Wal
ler The latter did not share in their
opinion.
Tamatave is the chief port of entry in
Madagascar. and india rubber is among
the principal exports Cf that great island,
which also has extensive forests. contain
ing much valuable timbers suitable for
protectorate over the Island of Madagas-
car and Great Britain has recognized 1t.
But the native government of Madagascar
repudiates the French claim to protec-
torate, and the government of France is
now sending to Madagascar a large expe-
ditiop intended to subdue the Hovas. 1t
may also be added that the last two Ameri-
can consuls at Tamatave have presented
their credentials to the Malagasy govern
ment thereby causing some friction be-
tween themselves and the French resident.
Most Important Concession.
The concession granted to Mr.. Waller is
admitted to be a most valuable one as 1t
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 reasona-
bic than any previously granted In NADIA
gascar. Moreover. the concession is by
far the largest and is said to be in every
way the most important surface conces-
sion ever granted in Madagascar. 1t COW
ers an area of Us square miles. or more
than five times the area Of New York city.
The lands, in addition to producing rubber
trees and vines in vast quantities. abound
IN such fine timbers as ebony. mahogany,
rosewood. teak, and they are admirably
adapted to the cultivation of tea, coffee,
sugar and vanilla. lf--
When Mr.. Waller obtained his concession
he announced that he would stop the de-
struction Of the rubber trees and vines by
natives, in their method of getting rubber,
and that he would preserve the producing
capacity of his concession by having the
milk Of the rubber trees extracted in a
scientific manner. He also proposed to
enter largely into the cultivation of the
rubber plants. The discovery Of rubber in
that district is, however, of comparatively
recent date.
Why the French Oppose Him.
From the foregoing it will be seen that
there is no doubt that Mr.. Walters conces-
ic I,,oh in
opposition he has met with upon the part
of the French, 1t is not astonishing that
he Is now in trouble. Advioes from Anita
nanarivo, under date of May 81, 1894 an
bounced that the French resident there
had entered formal protest against the
concession secured by Mr.. Waller, declar-
ing that France would refuse to recognize
any concessions made to foreigners with
out her permission.
Outrageous Visit of Marines.
Advices from Tamatave, under date of
December of last year, published here on
January J3 Of the present year, said:
Among the most provoking of the out
RACES committed by the French marines
Gin Madagascar) was that upon the persons
and property of two American citizens. one
of whom was ex-Consul John l.. Waller of
Kansas. in the home of an American named
John Dublin. Mr.. Waller was at the time
seated in the doorway of his friends house
smoking, when three French marines, hav
ing frightened away all the natives in the
neighborhcod, appeared. They caught
sight of Mr.. Dublin's wife and, probably
mistaking Mr.. Waller for Mr.. Dublin, in
sultingly demanded that he deliver Mrs.
Dublin to them. Mr.. Waller Immediately
commanded them to leave the premises.
They refused to go and further demanded
that Mr.. Waller supply them with cigars.
This he also refused and again commanded
them to leave. One of the marines became
very angry and wanted to know why Mr..
a Ia
afraid of Frenchmen. Mr.. Waller told him
he would not run, nor was he afraid. The
marine drew his side arms and advanced
on Mr.. Waller, declaring that he would
cut his throat Mr.. Waller raised the chair
upon which he had been seated and warned
the intruder that if he advanced another
step he would brain him. This warlike
demonstration cooled the Frenchman's blood
ard he went away.
while Mr.. Waller was thus engaged the
two other marines had entered another
apartment of the house. insulted Mrs. Dub
lin, stolen a number of articles and de-
camped. Mr.. Waller and Mr.. Dublin imme-
diately made complaint to United States
Consul Wett ar, who made an investigation
of the facts and reported the case to the
French resident. But up to date no fur
ther action in the matter has been taken"
Finally, mail advices from Tamatave,
published here on February % of the pres
ent year, said that the French were in
censed to the point of violence against Mr..
Waller, believing that his representations
caused the United States government to
withdraw it's instructions to the new con-
sui, Mr.. Wetter, to obtain recognition
through the French resident.
NO ADVICES RECEIVED.
If the Fact. Arc as Telegraphed This
Government Will Protest.
It is said at the State Department that no
information has been received there in re-
gard to ex-Consul Waller's case.
In the event that the press report is well
founded either United States Consul Camp
bell at Mauritis, or United States Consul
Wetter at Tamatave, will promptly cable
the news to the State Department. If the
circumstances are as represented it is en-
tirely probable that this government will
enter an energetic protest against the arbi-
trary action Of the French authorities.
Mr. Waller is a citizen Of the United
States and not French subject, and the
officials here cannot conceive by what color
of authority the French court-martial at
tempted to assert jurisdiction over an
American citizen not actively engaged in
hostilities against them. The ex-consul
has many friends in this country, some of