882.01 Foreign Control/6
Memorandum by the Chief of the Division of Western European Affairs (Marriner)
The British Ambassador called to say that he had had a telegram from his Government requesting him to ascertain the views of this Government as to how far it could go in some kind of international control in Liberia. He said that the British Government were convinced that there was no hope in leaving the matter much longer to the sole control of the Liberians. He said that as the Council was meeting very soon in Geneva, the British Government were very anxious for our views on what cooperation we could extend so that they could present before the League something acceptable to us. His Government had mentioned in the telegram the possibility of a Commission of five, two to be appointed by the League of Nations, two by Liberia, and one by the United States.
I told him that before making any definite decision on this subject, the Secretary had been anxious to have a further talk with the President and possibly with Senator Borah58 and that I would take the matter up with him at the earliest opportunity. Sir Ronald added that his Government thought that it might be wise for a suggestion for such control by a Commission to come from the Liberian Government itself, and I agreed with him that it would be the best method if possible.
- William E. Borah, of Idaho, chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.↩