THE FRENCH IN MADAGASCAR.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1162, 18 October 1883, Page 1

THE FRENCH IN MADAGASCAR.

(From the special correspondent of the Melbourne Argus.) (Oontimwd.)

At this time Governor Hennessy received the following letter :

1 Orinetal Hotel, Port Louis, Julv 3, 1883. 'To His Excellency Sir John, Pope Hennessy, G.C.M.G., &c, Governor of Mauritius and its dependencies.

' Sir, —As the wife of a British subject, now detained a prisoner-of-war by the French authorities tit Tamatave, Madagascar, I take the liberty of writing to your Excellency, to ask your advice and assistance in the painful circumstances in which my husband is now placed. My husband, Mr George Andrew Shaw, a missionary of the London Missionary Society, who has been stationed for three years at Tamatave, and had previously for eight years resided in Central Southern Madagascar, was at Tamatave previous to and during the attack made by the French naval authorities upon that town, but was arrested on the following Saturday (June 16), and has been in close confinement since that date. On mv -arrival from England, per EM.S. Taymouth Castle, together with other missionaries of our society, on luesday, the 26th ult., I was deeply concerned and troubled to hear what had occurred, and as soon as practicable communicated with Captain Johnstone, of H.M.S. Dryad, in order to obtain his assistance and advice on the subject, since, owing to the recent death of H.B.M.'s consul at Tamatave, as well as through the state of siege now existing, we have at present no English consular representative at the place. Captain Johnstone informed mo that my husband was supposed to have been arrested on a charge of having communicated with the Hoovns, and of having Hoova spies" concealed on the mission premises. By his advice I sought an interview with Admiral Pierre, the French commandant, and accordingly went on board his ship La Flore. He did not see me, but through an officer I asked—(l) that I might be allowed to stay witli my husband on board the Nievre transport, on which he is detained ; or that I might have an interview with him ; or (3) that I might be permitted to stay on shore at Tamatave during his detention ; but to each of these requests a refusal was sent.- Neither was tlie slight favor of being allowed to see him on deck, as I passed in the boat, granted to me, the boat being peremptorily ordered away. From letters sent to me by my husband just before his arrest, and when he had no apprehension of any such action being taken, I can easily gather that the only grounds for the charges made against him by the French are the following facts, viz., that some time before the French attack was made, but while the people were already in much alarm, some of his own personal native friends, teachers in the schools and pastors of the congregation under his charge, left a quantity of iheir property in his care beieving that it would be safe in his residence as that of a British snbjfct. I may mention th it Mr Shaw, by the approval of the consul and of Captain Johnstone, had made full arrangements for no ambuliinco ptuff for tending the wounded of whatever nationality; but the French admiral refused to recognise any such proceeding or allow it to be respected, on the ground that they were not fighting with a civilised nation! Further, in order that your Excellency may B<e the confidence that had been placed in Mr Shaw's character and judgment by his fellow-countrymon, 1 may add that he hud beeo chosen as president of a committee of safety that had been formed to protect life and property, a precaution urgently needed, since for several days the French, although masters of the place, made no police arrangpments whatever to protect Europeans or their property from pillage and incendiarism; and but foi such precautions almost all the property of foreign residents I would have been burnt ami otherwise destroyed. On the night of the bombardment Mr. Shaw was ordered away from his house which in on the outskirts of the town, and during liis absence at the house of &\ friend

he servants allowed'several of, the natives to take refuge in liis premises, they having not the slightest notion that they were doing anything wrong, These are the only groundß on which my husband has been arrested. His letters and papers were taken possession of, bis house made an outpost of the French - pickets, his furniture and other property wantonly destroyed, and he h.ns. been kept a close prisoner up to the present, time. As I have not been able to communicate with bim, 1 cannot tell what, if any, steps he h:ts been able to take in preparing a defence ; and 1 therefore, ask your Excellency if it would bo possible that a French, legal adviser, could be sent to his help, together with; representations from yourself to the French admiral as well as any other steps you may kindly see fit to be taken in the matter. I need ha'rdly say that my anxiety and sorrow are/extreme in the painful circumstances in which my husband and I are both placed; 'a ( nd this is only alleviated by the as I am now on British territory, I can confidently appeal to your Excellency, as the representative of our Queen, for your powerful aid. I need only.add that, by the testimony of the officers 'of H.M S. Dryad, the French are acting in a very high-handed manner, <md are ' straining even the wide licence of martial law against all British subjects. Their actions is in strong contrast to the humane and truly Christian conduct of the Malagasy Queen and her Gove'oment in. carefully providing for the saf3 conduct and protection and supply of food French citizens, members of the) ICatbolic mission, who were guarded and ''protected from all injury or insult, and, .brought down to the coast in perfect safety, even after the native population had 1 been irritated by the unjust attack upon both the north western and eastern ports. Again asking, your Excellency's speedy and kind interference in our behalf, 'I am, sir, your Excellency's very obedient and humble servant, (Signed) ' Emily Shaw. ' On receipt of the above letter the Governor at once decided to send the Bmall colonial Government steamer (not 'man-of-war' as erroneously stated in certain European telegrams) to Tamatave, under the command of Captain Crawfurd, R.N., harbormaster of Port L6uis,for the double purpose named in the two following despatches to the French admiral—offering the Stella also to Captain Johnstone for further service after her return to the Mauritius from this particular mission :

'Government-house,. ~'■'" ' Mauritius, July 4, 1883.

'Monsieur L'Amirul,-;, I r have the honour to inform your Excellency that it has been brought,. to my. knowlojge that there are in (h« town of Tamatave, or its neighbourhood,, inhabitants of .Mauritius arid oilier British subjects desirous of leaving Madagascar who are •unable to quit the country for want of .funds or for other reatons. 1 have therefore sent to Tamatave the steamer Stella'i ing to the Poit-departmerit ! of this Government, in charge of Cc-mrnander Crawfnrd, R.N , with instructions to offer -1 passages to Mauritius to Mauritians or other British subjects who may be in distress or desirous of leaving Madagascar. Having every confidence in your .Excellency's desire to: ! respect the interests and wishes of British residents in Madagascar, a sentiment of i which you have given a distinguished proof in the honor paid to the remains. |of-the late Mr Consul Pakenham, 1 have: the honor to request that your Excellency will give Commander Crawfurd every facility consistent with the necessities of the service in.-"duch you. are iien'gaged, for removing l or relieving Mauritians or other British subjects who have been placed in a position of danger or distress by the accidents of war. ~,,) ' With the assuranco of my distinguished consideration, etc., believe me to be your Excellency's most obedient servant, ■ : i .i. .-

(Signed) ' J Pope Hennessy. 1 To hia Excellency Admiral Pierre, etc, Tamatave.' (To be Continued.)