882.00/905: Telegram
The Minister in Liberia (Mitchell) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 10—8:40 a.m.]
86. Department’s 55, November 28, 2 p.m.54 Complaints purporting to come from a council of native (paramount) chieftains of Maryland and Sinoe Counties have been made to this Legation and to the British Chargé here in an appeal through the Legations to the League of Nations for protection. Forwarded by canoe, the petition says in part that the chiefs report soldiers commanded by Colonel Davis dispatched by the present administration have already killed 400 men, women, and children, and burned or destroyed 13 towns simply because the natives refused recognition to the present administration which is the principal supporter of the slave trade and forced labor.
They appeal through the Legations to the League of Nations for protection of their lives, wives, and children and also for their continued existence, since they are being generally inhumanly treated and slaughtered; and they declare that they are certain, if something is not done immediately, they will not be able to survive much longer under the administration’s inhuman treatment.
The native chiefs deny positively the Government’s claim that the native tribes own firearms, including 200 or 300 modern rifles.
Whenever native messengers succeed in leaving the disturbed region for Monrovia, they bring confirmation of continued depredations there. The British Chargé is also making representations to his Government.
- Not printed.↩