People's Pilot, Volume 5, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 August 1895 — MUST FREE WALLER. [ARTICLE]

MUST FREE WALLER.

UNITED STATES WILL MAKE AN IMPERATIVE DEMAND. The Detention in a French Prison of Our Ex-Consul to Madagascar Will No Longer lie Permitted —Claims Made That His Health 'lt, .a^v.ed. Washington, Aug 22 —There is good authority for the statement that a peremptory demand will be made by the United States for the release of ex-Con-sul John Waller of Tamatave, and that satisfactory indemnity will be required for his arrest and imprisonment, with a probable request for a commission to determine Waller’s rights in Madagascar. The discussion of the ease between the French and American diplomats has reached a point where it irsaid there is little else for the Unit d States to dc, owing to the fact that v peated requests for a copy of * charges and testimony upon -,vl ' Waller was convicted have not complied with by the French gov ment. The dilatory action of F: in this matter is regarded as indie , that the French government has a j • case and will be unable to resist tin mands made by the United States f the restoration of Waller to liberty aml indemnity for his losses. A condi'.i which makes the delay of France more aggravating is the fact that the department is aware of the serious ilhv .; of Waller in prison and that his furtuer confinement is harmful to his health. International questions generally move slowly, but the delay in producing papers and testimony in the case of Waller has been of an exasperating kind, and has resulted in sharp pressure by United- States officials to bring about a settlement, the belief being that a great deal of the delay has been largely unnecessary. Some of the reports which have been received at the department indicate that the treatment of Waller has been unjust and his arrest and trial a breach of international comity. Enough is known regarding the negotiations to justify the statement that the department is confident it will result in the release of Mr. Waller, with Indemnity for his imprisonment and the restoration of his property rights. There is also authority for the statement that the department feels assured Waler’s bare release could have been secured before now, but it was felt that this would be accomplished at the risk of losing indemnity for imprisonment and protection of Mr. Waller in his property rights in Madagascar. As the money interests involved are placed by no one In the department at less than $1,000,000, the case has been hand!.--1 on the theory that it was better that Mr. Waller should continue to . endure his incarceration for a few months than risk losing his claim.