File No. 763.72/5257½
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Liberia ( Curtis)
Following is memorandum from British Embassy dated June 8:
His Majesty’s Government have no desire to hamper Liberian trade, and the restrictions which have been placed upon that country have been directed solely with the object of preventing Germans from trading under cover of Liberians.
These restrictions His Majesty’s Government would be prepared to withdraw on the following conditions.
- (a)
- All Germans to be removed from Liberia.
- (b)
- Effective steps to be taken by the Liberian Government to prevent the carrying on of German firms by nominees who would subsequently, after the war, hand them back to their original owners as going concerns.
His Majesty’s Government attach very considerable importance to this latter condition, and they feel they would find it impossible to withdraw, as they would wish, all existing trade restrictions unless it were carried out. They will, however, be ready to consider favourably any concrete proposals for the rehabilitation of Liberia as soon as the Germans now there are definitely removed.
Submit Liberian Government and cable statement of steps Liberia will take under condition (b).