The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-08


Secretary Sherman in his reply to the
protest of Japan against the proposed an
nexation of Hawaii by the United States,
said: 1.-THE recent French law declaring
Madagascar to be a colony of France ended
the former treaties Of that kingdom" 1t
did, indeed, and France did not offer a
word of explanation to other nations. The
annexation of Madagascar was one of the
most remarkable cases of territorial ag
gression on record, and it involved a case
of outrage on the rights of American
citizen which has never been atoned or
apologized for to this day. A brief sum-
mary of the facts in the case will show
how European governments proceed when
they want to annex new territory, not at
the request of the government, as in the
case of Hawaii, but by force and arms
Hawaii comprises 1923 square miles, little
more than one-fifth the area of Indiana,
while Madagascar embraces 100000 square
miles, or nearly seven times the area of
Indiana. Madagascar had a native govern
ment and a Christian Queen who had con-
Guided treaties of friendship with England
government, through it's consul, picked a
quarrel with the Madagascar government
and then began a series of aggressions that
were to end in the annexation of the island.
One pretext after another was seized upon
for forcing the native government to make
concessions and driving it to the wall, the
strong government always being able to
show that the weaker one was in the
wrong. Concession followed concession, in
demnity after indemnity was paid by the
Madagascar government, and still the
French aggressions continued. Finally, in
the early part of 1896, the Queen of NADIA
gascar was induced to sign a treaty recog-
nizing a French protectorate over the ISL
and. Even this did not satisfy the French
home government, and the Assem-
bly, voted to annex the island.
This action of the French legis-
lature produced no little commotion
in the mercantile world. The New York
Chamber of Commerce requested of the
Department of State at Washington ad-
vice as to any injury that might be caused
to American trade with Madagascar by
the notification of the commercial treaties
that had been concluded between the
United States and the native government.
To this inquiry no satisfactory answer was
obtained. France continued her policy of
aggression until finally, on March z, 1897,
the deposed Queen of Madagascar was put
on board a French war ship at Tamatave
for deportation to the Island of Reunion.
there to pass the remainder of her days in
captivity History scarcely affords a paral
lei to this case of q brave and unoffending
people being conquered by a stronger
power and a native government of their
own choice being wiped out to make room
for one established by their oppressors.
In the prosecution of its plans the French
government showed an utter disregard for
the commercial rights of the United States
and the rights of American citizens. Our
commercial treaties with Madagascar were
set aside as of no force. An American citi
zen who went there in the summer of 1896
to explore certain gold fields was ordered
off the island by the French authorities.
Early in 1895 Mr.. John L. Waller, formerly
United States consul at Tamatave, was ar
rested and tried by a French court-martial
on charge of conspiracy with the natives
against the French authorities and sem
fenced to twenty years Imprisonment. Mr.
walters chief offense consisted in shipping
products from an extensive land concession
which had been made to him by the native
government. but which the French authori-
ties refused to confirm. This was before
the island had been annexed Mr. Waller
after being treated with great indignity
was confined in fortress at Marseilles.
In May, 1926, on the demand of the United
States ambassador, the French government
transferred Walters case to the jurisdiction
of the civil courts About the lime he was
imprisoned he made public letters-patent
by which the Queen Of Madagascar leased
and granted TO him for thirty years fifteen
miles square Of land containing valuable
rubber forests. The lease was to be re-
newed for another term II thirty years
after the expiration of the frrt term. Mr..
Waller calculated that the Re. lis for sixty
years on $40 acres alone wort = Si32 0OO
| or $395,000 net after paying royal after
he had been in prison sew = m Jhs the
French authorities offer a !, release him
'as an act Of graciousness to the ULtsed
States but those who were representing