MADAGASCAR PLOT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11685, 29 April 1916, Page 7

MADAGASCAR PLOT.

COLLAPSE OF COXSPIHAOY. PARIS. February IS. A wmnumiVnia issued by ■ the' Minister of tho Colonies reduces to its exact proportions the plot which was discovered in Madagascar. '•Tim plot," it [states. " was hatched by a number of former school students assisted by two or three priests and some native, pastors. A secret society founded by them, apparently intruded to foment Malady patriotism, and then to formulate political demands upon the scirercign authority. "A number cf h.otheads, havingcommitted indiscretions of speech and suggested insurrectionary schemes, tho Governor-General, in view of present conditions, had the ringleaders arrested and an inquiry opened, which caused' a certain amount of ' excitement, billpermitted tho great majority of the Malagasy population to manifest strongly its loyalty towards France and its indignant reprobation of those who had been led astray by ill-digested teaching and readimg. '' The Courts were placed in possession of.tho facts, and tho GovernorGeneral stated on February 11 that tho proceedings against those implicated were being ••endueted satisfactorily. Judgment will bo given shortly." According to tho "Journal" correspondent at Antananarivo, thoYe was. a .plot, to pr.ison a number of European officials and soldiers. (i Tt is clear;" ho says,'"that the means for cairying on a. propaganda had been supplied by the Germans residing in tho.colony."