Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-06-06
RELATIONS WITH MADAGASCAR.
They Are Being Considered by This
Government and England.


Government and England.
The under secretary Of state for foreign
affairs. Mr.. George N. Curzon. in the house
of commons yesterday, replying to a ques-
ton as to whether Great Britain and the
United States would assent, in view of the
Islands conversion into O French colony,
to end their enga cement with MADAGASCAR.
said the matter was receiving the attentive
consideration of the government, and the
latter expected shortly to receive informa-
ton as to the views Of the United States
on the subject. S'a
The State Department has not yet been
approached by the British government to
learn its views relative to the conversion
Of Madagascar into French colony, but
it has not on that account neglected to
take steps On its own account to safeguard
American interests in that quarter Of the
globe.
These interests are of degree of i'm
portance commercially that would be sur
prisng to persons to whom MADAGASCAR Is
only a name. Not only is there a large
import trade from the island, principally
in rubber and tropical products generally.
but the goods sent back to pay for these
articles are of considerable amount. Aside
from any sentimental interest in the fate
OF the unfortunate Hovas, whom the Unit
ed States was among the first foreign ma
lions to recognize as an Independent gov
eminent, we have substantial reasons for
moving slowly in the recognition of the
French conquest of the country. In such
cases our general policy has been to avoid
any consideration of the moral or political
aspects of the change about to be made If
they do not directly affect our own country
but to insist that the government that as
sumes control Of the conquered or acquired
territory shall assume and faithfully dis
charge all obligations toward ourselves
that were chargeable to the original gov
eminent with which we may have made
treaties.
Thus we have uniformly hold +b,+ -.
concession granted to an American citizen
by one government must be respected nv
us successor. and probably we should
make no departure from this policy In the
an adherence to this idea. which is a gem
orally recognized principle of international
law, would be to raise speedily a question
as to the soundness of the Waller conces-
sion.
Another point of even more Importance
than this of private concessions, however.
is the matter of tariff dues on imports
IRON the United States. At present, under
the treaty or 1881 with the Hovas imports
from the United States and exports to the
same could not be taxed to exceed ten rer
cent. This is obligation that our gov
eihment would expect France to assume If
she undertook to annex the island but
from what is unofficially known here of
the French program, she Is very much in
disposed to do SO. 1t is understood that in
stead she would not only largely increase
the import duties on goods entering NADIA
eascar. but by excepting the French
merchants from these dues entirely would
discriminate injurousy against the Ameri-
can and British meI chants. who have been
dolnS the bulk OF the business heretofore
Already our State Department has called
upon the French government for a state
neEt OF Its intentions in this resDect hut
no response has yet been made and the
BRUSH appear to be about to assume a
position corresponding to our own respect
ing this matter.