Mr. Eustis to Mr.
Olney.
Embassy
of the United States,
Paris, April 18, 1896,
(Received April 30.)
No. 486.]
Sir: In compliance with your instruction No.
635, of March 30, I addressed a note to the president of the council,
minister of foreign affairs, requesting that the treaty rights of the
United States in Madagascar be well defined, and asking particularly if
our treaty of May 13, 1881, is to remain in force or is to be superseded
by our treaty engagements with France.
[Page 123]
Under date of April 16 I received a reply from Mr. Bourgeois, who states
that the maintenance of the treaty of 1881 would be inconsistent with
the present order of things, but that the French Government is willing
to extend to Madagascar the provisions of our treaties with France.
I inclose herewith a copy of my note to Mr. Léon Bourgeois and a copy of
his reply, with a translation of the same.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1 in No.
486.]
Mr. Eustis to
Mr. Bourgeois.
Embassy of the United States,
Paris, April 14, 1896.
Sir: On the 12th of February my Government
received from the ambassador of the French Republic at Washington a
note saying that his Government had been led by difficulties that it
had encountered in exercising its protectorate over Madagascar and
in insuring guaranties for the future to take final possession of
the island.
Under date of the 26th of February, the Secretary of State of my
Government, Mr. Olney, replied to Mr. Patenôtre that the contents of
his communication had been noted with due reserve as to the effect
of the action of the Government of France upon the treaty rights of
the United States.
In view of these facts I am now instructed to request of the
Government of the French Republic a statement of its understanding
of the effect of this final occupation of the island of Madagascar
in regard to the rights and privileges conceded to the Government of
the United States by its existing treaty of peace, friendship, and
commerce, concluded May 13, 1881, modifying its previous treaty of
February 14, 1867. My Government desires particularly to know
whether that treaty is to remain operative or to be replaced by our
treaty engagements with France, and I am instructed to say that the
precise status of the United States in the matter ought to be
positively and clearly defined.
Satisfied that your excellency will appreciate the propriety of this
request, I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 2 in No.
486.—Translation.]
Mr. Bourgeois
to Mr. Eustis.
Mr. Ambassador: I have the honor to
acknowledge the receipt of your excellency’s letter of the 14th
instant, by which you kindly inform me that your Government, being
desirous of determining the situation of the United States at
Madagascar under the treaties, has instructed you to ask me if the
treaty which it concluded on May 13, 1881, with Queen Ranavalo is to
remain in force, or if it is to be replaced by the conventions of
the United States with France.
In reply to this communication, I hasten to inform you that in the
opinion of the Government of the Republic, the maintenance of the
treaty of May 13, 1881, is inconsistent with the new order of things
created by the taking possession of Madagascar. I hasten to add
that,
[Page 124]
on the other hand,
the Government of the Republic is disposed to extend to the great
African island the whole (ensemble) of the conventions applicable to
the Government or citizens of the United States in France and in
French possessions, and which have enabled them to entertain their
relations of all kinds so profitable to both countries.
Please accept, etc.,
