882.00/869
The Liberian Acting Secretary of State (Coleman) to the American Chargé in Liberia (Reber)47
Mr. Chargé d’affaires: I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your despatch of the 3rd instant together with its enclosure—a memorandum banded by the Secretary of State of the United States of America to the Liberian Consul General in Baltimore on November seventeenth, which however, was not received at this Capital until you were kind enough to transmit same on the date herein above mentioned.
2. I wish in the first instance, to record the profound appreciation of the Government of Liberia for the frank tenor of said document and the friendly interest which your Government continues to manifest in the welfare of this Republic. Permit me in the meantime to call attention to certain statements contained in your Government’s memorandum which would appear to be inexact. I refer for the moment particularly to the leading paragraph in which it is asserted that “the establishment of the International Commission of Enquiry into the existence of slavery and forced labour was agreed upon with extreme reluctance by the Liberian Government.”
3. Perhaps you will recall that the idea of a Commission to examine into the alleged existence in Liberia of slavery and forced labour was spontaneously suggested to my Government and is contained in this Department’s Note No. 297/D dated June 11, 1929.48 The Government of Liberia is not therefore prepared to concede that the establishment of said Commission was agreed upon with extreme reluctance by them.
4. With reference to the observations contained in paragraphs 6th and 7th respectively of your memorandum
“Two months have now elapsed since the formal submission of the report to the Liberian Government. The American Government understands that not only has no action been taken against the officials whose guilt was established therein but apparently all of these officials continue to hold public office.
It was brought to the attention of the American Government during the course of the investigation that the Government of Liberia was endeavouring through threats and intimidation to prevent the submission of testimony. The natives of Liberia came forward nevertheless and made their deposition before the members of the International Commission. It has now been reported that instead [Page 383] of correcting its abuses the Government of Liberia has encouraged measures of retaliation against these helpless people.”
I desire to point out, that it was felt that any plan or mode of procedure decided upon could not be carried into effect without having first been laid before and approved by the National Legislature which was due to assemble within six weeks after the report had been submitted to the Executive Government. This was accordingly done and a committee of the House of Representatives which carefully scrutinized and considered the facts alleged in said report, has made a partial report the acceptance of which by the House itself has led to the expulsion on the second instant of some of its members, who appear from the Report to be involved in the charges and the acceptance of the resignation of the Vice President Allen N. Yancy who was about to be impeached. Moreover, under pressure of public opinion at the revelations therein contained the said Committee suggested, and His Excellency President King in accordance with their suggestions has tendered his resignation and retired to private life. The District Commissioners have also been dismissed; all of which took place before the receipt of your memorandum.
5. Arrangements have been made and witnesses are being collected with a view to institute prosecutions against all persons who by the report of said Commission would appear to be criminally liable under the existing laws of this Republic. In addition to this a more detailed programme of reforms is already being carefully worked out, further particulars of which will be submitted to you in a few days.
6. My Government desires to express in advance the hearty appreciation of the measures of support and cooperation which your Government have been good enough to promise.
I have [etc.]
- Copy transmitted to the Department by the Chargé in Liberia in despatch Diplomatic No. 52, December 12, 1930; received January 5, 1931.↩
- See telegram No. 18, June 13, 1929, 9 p.m., from the Minister in Liberia, Foreign Relations, 1929, vol. iii, p. 277.↩