882.01/28
The Minister in Liberia (Mitchell) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 3.]
Sir: I have the honor to confirm the Legation’s telegram No. 79, October 3, 9 p.m. with reference to the desire of the present administration [Page 695] to send an envoy to the United States who would be especially instructed to lay before the Department the policy which will be adopted and put into effect after the inauguration of Mr. Edwin Barclay as President of Liberia on January 5, 1932.
At an informal meeting, a discussion of Liberia and its future development came up and Mr. Barclay repeatedly stated that propaganda circulated as to his being anti-American was without foundation; that it was his intention to give Liberia an administration that would reflect credit upon those entrusted with official duties; that none but those highly qualified educationally and of acknowledged strict integrity would be given positions of trust.
He seemed at a loss to know just what representation could be made to insure the American Government that the reforms as recommended by the International Committee of Inquiry would be speedily and satisfactorily put into operation.
It was finally decided that a cable be sent asking if a special envoy, clothed with the authority to speak for the Government would be given a sympathetic hearing. The Department’s reply (No. 52, Oct. 6, 2 p.m.) was repeated to the Honorable Louis A. Grimes, Attorney General, recently returned representative from the League meeting at Geneva where he was in collaboration with Liberia’s representative, Signor Sottile.
A few days thereafter Mr. Grimes called at the Legation and after expressing the great regret of the Liberian Government at the continued reluctance on the part of the American Government to signify its intention of renewing the friendly relations which had for so many years existed, placed in my hands the enclosed Memorandum.53
The Legation does not presume to offer any comment on this memorandum in view of the Department’s reply contained in the cablegram referred to above and the fact that the text of this document has been to some measure the subject of discussion and review on previous occasions.
Respectfully yours,
- Not printed.↩