Mr. Eustis to
Mr. Uhl.
Embassy of the United States,
Paris, June 14, 1895. (Received June
24.)
No. 316.]
Sir: I have the honor to transmit to the
Department a copy of my last communication to Mr. Hanotaux about the
Waller case and a copy and translation of his reply.
[Page 264]
The letters referred to are one from Bray, his stepson, and one from
Mr. Sims, inclosed to me by Senator Voorhees. The papers in the case
have been received from Tamatave by the minister of war, and at my
last interview with Mr. Hanotaux, on the 12th instant, I again urged
upon him the importance of furnishing, without delay, the
information which he had promised at the request of my
Government.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1 in No.
316.]
Mr. Eustis
to Mr. Hanotaux.
Embassy of the United States,
Paris, May 31, 1895.
Sir: On the 23d of April last, acting
under instructions of my Government, I applied to your
excellency for certain information concerning the case of our
late consul at Madagascar, Mr. Waller, and asked particularly
whether this embassy would be allowed to communicate with him.
In a conversation with your excellency in regard to the same
case I again mentioned the subject and understood that a reply
would be given me after consultation with the legal advisers of
your department.
Under date of April 30 your excellency kindly wrote that the
papers relating to Mr. Waller’s case were on their way to Paris
and that as soon as they should be received the information
applied for would be furnished, but no reference was made to my
inquiry as to the privilege of this embassy to communicate with
Mr. Waller.
I venture to recall this matter to your excellency’s attention.
The case of Mr. Waller has been much commented upon in the
United States, and as it was specially recommended to me by my
Government, I shall feel obliged if a reply to this last
question could reach me at an early date. I shall thank you also
to let me know at the same time whether the two letters
addressed to Mr. Waller, which I sent to your excellency under
dates of May 6 and 7, were or will be delivered.
I avail, etc.,
[Inclosure 2 in No.
316—Translation.]
Mr. Hanotaux to Mr. Eustis.
Mr. Ambassador: On the 21st of May last
your excellency was good enough, in referring to your previous
communications, once more to mention to me the interest you
attached to be able to communicate either personally or by a
member of the embassy with Mr. Waller, formerly consul of the
United States at Madagascar, condemned to twenty years’
detention by the military tribunal of Tamatave, who is at
present at the Maison Centrale de Clairvaux.
I called the most special attention of the minister of the
interior to the request of your excellency, and I will hasten to
make known to you the response of Mr. Leygues as soon as it
reaches me.
I should inform your excellency, moreover, that Mr. Waller, upon
his arrival at Clairvaux, was placed in a cell so he might
escape all contact with the other prisoners, and that he will
enjoy all the benefits of lenity compatible with the rules.
I add that the necessary dispositions have been taken, upon the
request of my department, to insure the delivery to Mr. Waller
of the letters annexed to your communications of the 6th and
17th of May last.
Accept, etc.,