New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-08-25

countries that, II ratified. the treaty would
change nothing In the treaties tten actually ex-
isting between the Hova Government and other
nations. and that there was no intention Of put
ting any obstacle in the way OF private enter
prises which might be started in Madagascar by
persons Of any nationality.
Furthermore the French Minister OF Foreign
Affairs removed all doubts As to the validity Of
concessions to American citizens in conformity
with the treaty Of 1883 between the United States
and Madagascar by his telegram OF December
81 1885, requiring French Ambassadors and Min
listers to notify the countries to which they were
respectively accredited that France would not
interfere with the existing treaties between them
and the Malagassy Government. Despite the
plain provisions of the treaties referred to and
the unequivocal declarations OF the French Min
,ster of Foreign Affairs as TO the scope and
meaning Of the Franco-Malagassy treaty OF 1880.
the Resident General On May l6 1894. Issued
semi mi-official proclamation which. In erect MADE
the Waller concession valueless.
II Is necessary and important to note here that
at that time there had been no declaration OF war
by France against Madagascar An attempt to
take possession of small part OF the concession
some 12 900 acres OF agricultural lands. portion
of which had been leased to tenants by Messrs.
Waller and Bray (he latter having acquired an
interest In the original ease)-was forcibly pre-
vented by the French authorities. On July is,
ls94-stl prior TO the existence OF state OF war
the resident general issued another semi-onciai
note in which he declared taat the French Gov
ernment would consider null and void any
concessions granted to foreigners by the Hova
Government which had not been ratified by MIN
and registered at the residency; and he caused
hundreds OF copies Of newspaper containing
this note be mailed to Mauritius, whlther
Bray had gone to enlist capital In his venture.
He was on the eve of success when this publica-
tion received and spread broadcast; ana the
result was his total failure to obtain the aid and
cooperation he sought.
PERSECUTION OF THE AMERICANS
Bahed at every point. he returned to Tama-
tave. where he found Waller anxiously awaiting
him. Troubles rapidly thickened around the
American holders of the Fort Dauphin conces-
sion. Spies were upon their track, and their
footsteps were constantly dogged in the hope OF
finding son,e pretext for their arrest. The mails
were iifled and their letters seized and opened.
In October Waller was assaulted in his own house
by three French man-of-war's men. but the at
tack was repulsed. He complained to the authori-
ties, and attention was paid to his complaint
On December u a French military force was
landed a. Tamatave and the town occupied on an
hours notice From that time forward. as long
nc Waller and BRAY were allowed to remain
reign of terror seems to have prevailed. Houses
were robbed and wives maltreated In the very
presence Of their husbands. On December ID
Bray was arrested a Hova. but upon his pro-
test was allowed to appeal to the American Con-
sui and establish his identity and citizenship,
whereupon he was released
Matters went from bad to worse as far as
Waller and Bray were concerned. and on March
AL and N
prison by the French military authorities. and
ali his books and papers were seized as we'll as
the books and parers of Bray. against whom no
charge had been brought. Then followed the So
called trial ef Waller by military court-martiai
and his sentence to Imprisonment for twenty
years on a trumped-up charge.
MIR. BRAYS STORY
In conversation with Mr.. Bray to-day a Tribune
CORRESPONDENT obtained a pretty clear account OF
the arrest and so-called trial and elected GONE
interesting facts not hitherto published-tacts
that Mr. BRAY has communicated to the State
Department. and which, it is believed. that De-
p.r,,1ent has yet to obtain from the United
States Consul at Tamatave. Mr. Bray began
by saying:
"In the afternoon OF March 5, 1895, six gen.
darmes came to the house and inquired for Mr..
Waller told them that he was not in. but
,ha, 7 would 90 and find him. ! did so. and
when he came to the house he was informed that
he was under arrest. He was thunderstruck,
and asked what charge was laid against him and
by whose order he arrested. The leader OF
the party replied by order Of the colone-com-
mandant, but refused to specify the charge. ana
Mr.. Waller was hustled off to prison. The house
was ransacked and all his books and papers were
carried off, also were my own
What did you then do?'
CONSUL wETTEa TAKES A HAND
81 Immediately notified Consul Wetter who
| wrote a note 70 the coonel-commandant, demand
| ing TO know why Mr. Waller had been arrested
The reply was that ne had sent out correspond
ence in violation of order which had been
issued on January IS. 1895. said correspondence
| not having been officially examined. This order
| Was never published except By posting copies.
written in French at various places. and as
matter of fact the United States Consul was not
| annrised of the existence Of such an order until
| January 26 and Mr.. Waller knew nothing OF It,
The penalty for violation OF the order was
fine of five to twenty-five francs. Consul Wet
ter was left under the impression that a violation
of this order was the only accusation against MI
Waller There was intmation Whatever at
that time that correspondence with the enemy
was charged.
The truth as to the violation of the order OF
January IS was that on January 20 Mr. Waller,
who knew nothing of the existence of the ORDER
went aboard a mail steamer in Tamatave haroor
and intrusted to a friendFa letter addressed to
| George E. Tessie- merchant in AntananarlVo
the Hova capital. and asked him TO mail IL at
Natal so that it would be brought up by the
mail steamer touching at Vatromandry ana mus
reach his correspondent without UNDERGOING tne
! SCRUTINY of the French authorities The only
motive In doing lhis was 10 escape such lhspec-
ton. for there was nothing in the letter or It's
Enclosures that could be construed as treasonaDie
TO the French