The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1895-03-28
AN EX.UNITED STATES CONSUL
SENTENCED TO TWENTY
YEARS IMPRISONMENT
by A FRENCH COURT MARITAL
IN MADAGASCAR
Ale Had Secured Valuable Concessions
From the Natives, Which Reused the
Envy of the French-Uncle Sam
Will Interfere.

Madagascar, has been tried before court
marital by the French military authorities
and found guilty Of having been in cores
Dondenoe with the Hovas and sentenced
to 20 PEARS imprisonment.
ON April 20, 1894, Mr.. Waller secured
"A concession from the HOyas government
of the whole southern part of the island
of Madagascar and this concession was
MANNED in spite of repeated protests of
the French residents and the French col
seny generally.
According to the French pioneer colon
asts al the nationalties engaged in the
india rubber trade considered that their
interests had been injured by the conces-
sian to Mr.. Waller. The latter did not
share this opinion Tamatave is the chief
por4 of entry in Madagascar and india
rubber is among the principal exports OF
shat great island, which also has extensive
forests containing much valuable timber
suitable for furniture.
France has hitherto claimed prOtec-
1orate over the island Of Madagascar, and
Great Britain has recognized it. But
the native government of Madagascar
refNldintcs the French claim to a protcc-
t0rate and the government of France is
now sending to Madagascar II large eXpe-
elitiOn intended to subdue the HOvas. 1t
may also be added that the last two
United States consus at that port have
presented their credentials to the Mula-
gasy government.
The concession granted to Mr.. Waller
is admitted to be most valuable one,
as il Is the great rubber district Of Fort
Dauphin, on the south coast of the island,
and the terms under which the eX-cOnsul
obtained ii were very much mOrerrcaSOnn-
bic than any previously granted in NADIA
gascar Moreover, the concern is in
every way the most important surface
concession ever granted in Madagascar
Jt covers I'M area Of 225 square miles, or
more than five times the area of New
York city. The lands, in addition to pro
olucing rubber trees and vines in vast
quantities, abound IN such fine timbcrs as
ebony, mahogany, rosewood and other
woods and are admirably 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 rub
her and that he would preserve the pro-
ducing capacity of his concession by hav-
ing the milk of the rubber trees extracted
in n scientific manner.
The Scientific American and the Flee
trical Review, commenting ON the rubber
district strongly, say the concession con-
s,tituted almost II prospective commercial
revolution. From this it will he seen
that there is no doubt that Mr.. Walters
concession is valuable one and in view
of the opposition he has met with upon
the part of France, it is not astonishing
that he is now in trouble,
Ahvices from Antanativcrio, under date
Of March IL, ANNOUNCED that the French
residents there had entered a formal pro
test against the concession secured by
Mr.. Waller declaring that France would
refuse to recognize any concessions made
30 foreigners without her permission.
Early in June last the New York World
published Il letter from Antanvario, dated
April u, in which Mr.. IL. Woodward
Harvey, editor Of the Madagascar News,
asked the World to convey Il message to
the American people saying: 1T is
time for the American government to put
ats foot down and say American enter
prise in this country shall no longer be
trampled by French bullying"
This was the result of the action of the
representatives of France in Madagascar
III denying the Malagasy government
sDens without first obtaining the sanction
of the French resident general.
France is endeavoring to persuade
President Cleveland" Mr.. Harvey de-
deavoring to persuade President Cleye-
clared, TO allow her represen-
tatiyes to be the medium of
all communications between the American
consul in this country and the Malagasy
government. The coup the Malagasy
government refuses to consent to. With
out touching how American interests in
this country would be affected by France
waging war on Madagascar for the pur-
pose of insisting on Malagasy recogni-
ton of the French representatives in
Madagascar, being practically the rep
Iesentatives also in America, the harm
that would result to American interest
even in time of peace, from such n trans
fer of recognition, is apparent by the at
titude the representatives of France are
taking towards such land grants.
IL contend that the present yeXatious
attitude of the French representatives
towards American commercial enterprises
in Madagascar is more than ample proof
that American interests would be ham
pered by the government reversing its
recognition that thu FrancO-Nlalagasy
treaty of 1856 does not entitle the French
resident general to preside over the re-
lations of the American consul in COM
mercial matters with the Malagasy gov
eminent, which recognition was in the
instance of United States Consul Camp
bells exequatur, confirmed by the 1887
Franco Malagasy cxeQuatur agree
ment.
And l further contend that the harm,
in the placing of American representa-
ton in this country in the hands of France
that would befall American commercial
interests, is especially shown by the
French in basing their objection to a
land grant TO an American citizen on
article l.. f., Franco-Malagasy treaty
They say that rs that article provides
that French citizens may reside, travel
and carry on trade freely throughout the
whole extent of the states of the queen,
no large grant Of land can be made
This prepOsterous proposition is not
only unmistakable evidence that under
French consular representation Ameri-
cans would never obtain large commercial
and agricultural privileges in Madagls-
car, but it also clearly shows the French
claim for previous sanction of the French
resident general is mere preteXt TO in
validate this concession with the intent
that no more shall be granted. Above
all, it plainly demonstrates the likelihood
of the French government having similar
ly distorted the articles in the treaty on