882.01 Foreign Control/84
Memorandum by Mr. Ellis O. Briggs of the Division of Western European Affairs39
Mr. Reber referred to his telegram No. 56, of February 28, concerning the draft resolution providing for the appointment by the International Committee of further experts to proceed to Liberia for the purpose of investigating administrative and social reforms. He stated that the text had been discussed this morning and that, with a few minor changes, it would probably be taken up for final decision tomorrow morning, thus precluding his asking for further instructions by cable. He inquired whether the Department had any comments which it would be desirable for him to make on behalf of this Government tomorrow with respect to our position in the matter.
Mr. Marriner said that while we had hoped that the sending to Liberia of still more investigators, who would doubtless merely substantiate much of the material already available regarding the necessity of reforms, might have been avoided, we naturally would make no objection to such a course. He said that Mr. Reber should make this point clear to the Committee, explaining that, should the Committee nevertheless desire to send these men, we believed it would be well for them to proceed to Liberia as promptly as possible.
Mr. Reber said that with the adoption of the resolution described above, the work of the International Committee would probably be over for the time being. Mr. Marriner answered that in that case Mr. Reber should arrange to come to Washington in order that he might discuss the Liberian situation with the Department in advance of the receipt of telegraphic reports on the work of the experts.
- Of trans-Atlantic telephone conversation between Mr. Reber in London and Mr. Marriner in Washington.↩