Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1933, The British Commonwealth, Europe, Near East and Africa, Volume II

882.01 Foreign Control/577: Telegram

The Ambassador in Great Britain (Bingham) to the Acting Secretary of State

London, June 28, 1933—noon.
[Received June 28—11:45 a.m.]

195. From General Winship. My telegram No. 194, June 28, 9 a.m. I estimate the present situation as follows:

1. The proposed amended loan agreement is in a very strong position. Liberia asked for and has received expert disinterested financial advice. The contract was carefully scrutinized at many discussions during the past 3 weeks, participated in by the League Finance Section experts as well as by Ligthart, and several modifications favorable to Liberia were accepted by Firestone. As the document stands I consider that it represents a fair and workable basis for the permanent operation of the loan and in particular the amplification and clarification of the authority of the Financial Adviser should greatly facilitate administration. I think we can in due course make representations demanding that in view of the foregoing and especially the very great consideration which has been shown, Liberia should forthwith take steps to regularize the situation and meet her obligations.

2. The plan of assistance will be accepted by Liberia only if it becomes apparent that there is no alternative. If acceptance is to be brought about it will require sustained pressure exerted by other governments, particularly those represented at Monrovia (British, French, German and American). Although I have discussed this here I think it could be definitely promoted from Washington for the purpose of arranging joint representations to Barclay, as was done in January 1931.⁵³ Our task in obtaining the support of other governments has been rendered more difficult by yesterday’s developments regarding the nationality of the Chief Adviser.

3. My opinion is that the Council would agree to appoint an American Chief Adviser only in the event that this should be requested by Liberia; perhaps then only on condition that for the period of the League plan the Financial Adviser and/or Frontier Force officer should not be Americans. This has been suggested to Firestone but to date he has declined to agree.

4. Following adjournment of the Committee Briggs and I had a private meeting with Cecil, Mackenzie and Firestone at which Cecil agreed to supplement the official report of the Committee by a personal telegram to Barclay urging that the legislature be at once summoned to take favorable action (it apparently takes from 2 to 4 weeks to convene a session; Grimes and Mackenzie will probably sail July 12, due Monrovia July 23). [Winship.]

Bingham

53. In January 1931, after concerted American, British, and German representations at Monrovia, the Liberian Government requested the assistance of the League of Nations; see Foreign Relations, 1931, vol. ii, pp. 659 ff.