Mr. Waller to Mrs. Waller.

My Dear Wife: Since writing you this a.m., thank God a letter from Langston & McQuinn sending a copy of a dispatch from the State Department recognizes the right of the Hova Government to lease land to American citizens, and at the same time giving me to understand that there is but one point on which the French might raise a question, and that, that under our treaty with Madagascar laud should be leased for a period of twenty-five years “instead of thirty years,” as in my lease. My attorneys advise me to therefore get P. M. to change clause so as to read for the term of twenty-five years, with two renewals of twenty-five years each. Then the lease will be proof against all attacks from the French, who have not, as you will see from dispatch, dared to raise any objection to my lease in Washington. I have dispatched to Porter, Harvey, and Tessier, and do what you can to have T. and P. have change made as written on sheet marked “A,” then our concession will be as good as gold.

Langston writes that there is an admitted balance due me of $314.92, and that the Secretary of the Treasury says that there are other amounts due me, and that I will be entitled to pay at $5.50 a day for seventy days in returning; that will be $385 plus $314.92 equals $669.92. But Wetter admits that he has held certain drafts which I drew and left in the consulate, and that prevents the settlement of my accounts in Washington. He says that he has written the State Department not to pay any drafts of mine. This is why I have not received my money. Oh, Sue, if you can only get friends to help me, I will teach Wetter a better lesson if I can only get out of his hands, and get home. You don’t know how this man has wronged me! These assignments mentioned $1; that is the legal form. The men will pay you the amount named in letters if they accept the assignment.

John
.

Show envelope with Washington letter.