Mr. Eustis to Mr. Olney.

No. 337.]

Sir: I have the honor to transmit a copy and translation of Mr. Hanotaux’s letter of the 10th of July, in answer to mine of the 22d of June, also a copy of my reply.

I considered his letter of the 10th of July so inconclusive and so unsatisfactory, as compared with his declarations made in previous communications upon the question of furnishing a copy of the evidence in the Waller case, that I came to the conclusion that no result could be accomplished by a continuation of our correspondence upon this question without further instructions from my Government.

I have, etc.,

J. B. Eustis
.
[Inclosure 1 in No. 337—Translation.]

Mr. Hanotaux to Mr. Eustis.

Mr. Ambassador: In answer to the letter by which I had addressed to your excellency on the 18th of June last, the text of the judgment rendered by the court-martial of Tamatave against Mr. Waller, ex-consul of the United States at Madagascar, you were kind enough, on the 22d of the same month, to note the interest you would attach to take cognizance of the papers of the trial.

I hastened to make known to the minister of war the desire expressed by your excellency. According to the indications which have been furnished to me, the documents in question have been kept at Madagascar, and their sending to Paris will require a certain delay.

Under these conditions I have the regret of not being in a position to answer, at present, the communication of your excellency.

Accept, etc.,

G. Hanotaux
.
[Inclosure 2 in No. 337.]

Mr. Eustis to Mr. Hanotaux.

Sir: I have had the honor to receive on the 12th instant your excellency’s communication in answer to mine of the 22d of June last, in which you advise me that you hastened to inform the minister of war of the desire expressed by me, and that you have been informed that the documents in question have been preserved in Madagascar, and that their transmission to Paris will necessitate a certain delay. Your excellency adds that under these circumstances you regret that you are not able to reply for the present to my communication, referring to that of the 22d of June above mentioned.

It is unnecessary for me to repeat to your excellency what has been the request made by my Government, or to state that, in view of our previous correspondence, my Government was justified in believing that its request would be complied with.

It will now hear with surprise that what it considered the most important documents in the Waller case, namely, the evidence, have not reached Paris, and that your excellency’s letter of the 10th of July gives no assurance that a copy of them will be communicated to my Government.

The French Government could not mistake the object of my Government when its request was first made, and it is with regret that I have to inform my Government that its confident expectation as regards this important matter has not yet been realized, and that its earnest efforts in behalf of an American citizen have so far been unavailing.

Under these circumstances it only remains for me to transmit to my Government a copy of your excellency’s letter and of my reply, and to await further instructions.

I avail, etc.,

J. B. Eustis
.