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

882.01 Foreign Control/698

Draft Protocol Establishing a Plan of Assistance for Liberia⁷⁸

Geneva, October 14, 1933

Whereas the Liberian Government has requested assistance from the League of Nations in the establishment of reforms in the administration and finances of the Republic of Liberia;

And Whereas the Council of the League of Nations, after examination of the administration and financial situation of Liberia, in collaboration with representatives of the Government of Liberia, by a Committee appointed by the Council and a Committee of Experts, has agreed to the plan of assistance established by the present Protocol and the Annex thereto, which were approved by the Council by its resolution of 1933;

And Whereas the plan is intended to ensure the political independence of the Republic of Liberia, and to avoid infringing in any way its territorial integrity or the exercise by its Government of its sovereign rights;

The undersigned, duly authorised, accepts on behalf of the Government of Liberia the following provisions:

Chapter I—Administration

Article 1

1. For administrative purposes, the territory of the Republic of Liberia is already divided into three provinces by the legislative authority of Liberia.

2. It is understood that the whole territory of the Republic is to be included within the three provinces.

3. Unless otherwise fixed by the Liberian Government in agreement with the Chief Adviser, whose appointment is provided for in Chapter IV:

(a) The Western Province shall extend from the Anglo-Liberian boundary on the north-west to the St. Paul River, and from the Atlantic Ocean to the Franco-Liberian boundary;

(b) The Central Province shall extend from the St. Paul River to the Cestos or Nuon River, and from the Atlantic Ocean to the Franco-Liberian boundary; and

(c) The Eastern Province shall extend from the Cestos or Nuon River to the Cavalla River, and from the Atlantic Ocean to the Franco-Liberian boundary.

Article 2

1. Each province shall be administered by a Provincial Commissioner assisted by a Deputy Commissioner.

2. The Provincial Commissioner is responsible to the Chief Adviser and, as representative of the executive power, to the President of the Republic of Liberia, through the intermediary of the Secretary of the Interior, with the understanding that no instructions, regulations or orders shall be issued to the Provincial Commissioner except after consultation with and approval of the Chief Adviser.

3. It shall be his duty to see that the laws and regulations are carried out, and he shall be responsible for public peace and order.

Article 3

1. To ensure public order, the Commissioners will have under their direct orders a corps of messengers, the numbers of which will be settled by the Liberian Government in consultation with the Chief Adviser.

The Government of Liberia shall decide, on the recommendation of the Chief Adviser, whether the messengers are to be armed or not.

2. Neither the “Frontier Force” nor any other military organisation of Liberia may intervene in the provinces, except at the request of the Provincial Commissioner, and then only within what the latter considers to be the necessities of the case.

Article 4

1. The Government of Liberia will engage three foreign specialists as Commissioners of the three provinces, and three other persons as deputies of the said Commissioners. They shall be designated by the Council of the League of Nations and approved by the President of the Republic of Liberia and appointed by him.

2. Only the three Provincial Commissioners will be appointed immediately, in order to proceed to Liberia with the Chief Adviser. The Deputy Commissioners will be appointed later, as provided for in Chapter IV.

3. With the approval of the Chief Adviser, any or all of the three deputies may be Liberians. In such case, their appointment shall be made by the President of the Republic, on the proposal of the Chief Adviser.

4. The foreign specialists who act as Provincial Commissioners will undertake the administrative training of the Liberian officials by whom they will be succeeded on the expiration of their contracts if the Chief Adviser considers the said Liberians to be able to perform their duties satisfactorily.

Chapter II—Health

Article 5

1. The Liberian Government agrees in principle to engage two whole-time medical officers for hospital and health work. They shall carry out all the ordinarily accepted duties of a medical officer of health in a tropical country.

2. They will be designated by the Council of the League of Nations and approved by the President of the Republic of Liberia and appointed by him. One will be appointed immediately and the other as soon as the Chief Adviser thinks it opportune.

3. They will be responsible to the Chief Adviser and to the President of Liberia.

4. As regards the appointment of the second medical officer, the President of Liberia, in consultation with the Chief Adviser, will have regard to the financial resources available.

Chapter III—Finance

Article 6

1. The Liberian Government shall continue to appoint to its service a Financial Adviser, together with a certain number of assistants, as provided for in the Loan Agreement of September 1st, 1926, and any contractual modification thereof by and between the Republic of Liberia, the Finance Corporation of America and the National City Bank of New York, made before this Protocol comes into force.

Article 7

2. It shall be the duty of the Financial Adviser and his collaborators to ensure the efficient organisation and functioning of the Liberian fiscal services and also the regular payment of the service of the loan advanced by the Finance Corporation of America, and they shall have all the powers necessary for their purposes.

Article 8

The Financial Adviser shall have the right of supervision over all questions within the financial sphere and shall have the right, more particularly, to make sure that the credits allocated are being judiciously applied for the purposes stipulated.

Article 9

All revenues and receipts of the Liberian Government (including import and export duties of every description, poll-tax, and all other imposts, taxes and receipts of the Republic) shall be collected under the supervision and direction of the Financial Adviser and his collaborators, who shall co-operate with the officials responsible for collection and, as regards provincial revenues and receipts, with the Provincial Commissioners.

Article 10

All revenues and receipts of the Government shall be deposited in a bank designated as the official depository in accordance with Article XVIII of the Loan Agreement of 1926, or any agreement supplementary thereto.

Article 11

No commitment in respect of expenditure shall be entered into and no sum shall be withdrawn from the Government funds deposited in the bank without the approval of the Financial Adviser.

Article 12

Any disagreement between the Liberian Government or any official thereof and the Financial Adviser shall be submitted to the Chief Adviser, who will arbitrate thereon and will make to the Council of the League of Nations a report which shall be communicated to the Government of the United States of America. This shall in no way modify or restrict the provision for arbitration between the Parties to the Loan Agreement of 1926, as provided in Article XXV of that Agreement, or any contractual modification thereof made before this Protocol comes into force.

Chapter IV—Co-ordination of Measures of Reform and Liaison With the League of Nations

Article 13

1. A Chief Adviser shall be appointed by the Council of the League of Nations with the acceptance (agrément) of the President of the Republic of Liberia^* This adviser shall be responsible to and removable by the Council of the League of Nations. He shall be attached to the Central Government, in order to give it the benefit of his advice, to supervise the execution of the Plan of Assistance and to co-ordinate the work of the foreign experts.

2. The Chief Adviser shall proceed with the three Provincial Commissioners as soon as possible to Liberia and assume his activities. He will prepare, in collaboration with the President of the Republic of Liberia and with the assistance of the advisers provided in the preceding chapters, the progressive details of the Plan of Assistance upon the principles agreed to in this Protocol, and taking account of the draft plan drawn up by the experts and of the discussions that have taken place in the Committee referred to in the Preamble.

3. The Liberian Government undertakes to collaborate with the Chief Adviser, and, subject to the reservation hereafter provided in the following article, to act in accordance with his advice and recommendations, and grant him all facilities for the performance of his duties throughout his term of office. It hereby agrees to delegate to the Chief Adviser sufficient authority for the effective execution of the plan of assistance in accordance with his powers defined in the first two paragraphs of the present article. The Chief Adviser may, in particular, ask for any documents and official reports he may require, and may make such investigations as he may think fit in the country.

Article 14

1. The Liberian Government may, if it considers necessary, refer any question to the Council of the League of Nations, including any question upon which there is any disagreement between the Liberian Government and the Chief Adviser.

2. Should it consider that the recommendations made by the Chief Adviser are in violation of the existing constitution of the Republic, it may ask the Council to refer the question to the Permanent Court of International Justice for an advisory opinion.

3. Until a decision has been given by the Council, the Liberian Government undertakes to comply with the recommendations made by the Chief Adviser, provided that, on the application of the Liberian Government, the Council of the League of Nations, or the acting President thereof, may decide that the execution of these recommendations shall be suspended pending the final decision of the Council.

4. The Chief Adviser shall make such communications as he may think fit to the Council of the League of Nations, provided he shall report at least every quarter upon the progress of his work and the execution of the plan of reforms, and will file a copy of the report with the Government of Liberia, to be kept in the archives of the Republic.

5. Should the Council consider that the Liberian Government has disregarded the undertakings given in the present Protocol, it may declare that the present Protocol has lapsed and that consequently the arrangements entered into with the Finance Corporation of America for the execution of the plan of assistance are no longer binding on this company. In such case, compensation to be fixed by the Council shall be paid to the Chief Adviser and other specialists appointed or designated by the Council, and any balance of the working capital provided for in the report of Mr. Ligthart reproduced in the Annex shall be applied to immediate amortisation of bonds issued under the Loan Agreement of 1926 or any agreement supplementary thereto.

6. In urgent cases, the acting President of the Council may act on behalf of the Council, provided that he refers the matter to the Council as soon as possible.

Article 15

1. The Chief Adviser shall receive a salary not exceeding U.S.$12,000.

2. If it is found possible to fix the Chief Adviser’s salary at a figure lower than U.S.$12,000, this will be done.

Chapter V—Duration of the Plan of Assistance

Article 16

The plan of assistance will terminate and the present Protocol will cease to be in force after a period of five years from the date of nomination of the Chief Adviser by the Council of the League of Nations, unless the Liberian Government intimates its desire that it should continue. In the latter case, the Council of the League of Nations may reconsider whether it desires to continue its co-operation and under what conditions.

Chapter VI—General Provisions

Article 17

1. All the powers exercisable by the Council of the League of Nations under the provisions of the present Protocol, except under Chapter IV (Article 14, paragraph 5) and Chapter V, may, unless otherwise decided by the Council, be exercised, and final decisions may be taken, by a standing committee which will be appointed by the Council.

2. The powers given to the President-in-office of the Council cannot be delegated to the President of the committee mentioned above.

Article 18

1. For the purposes of Chapter IV, Article 14, paragraph 5, the Council of the League of Nations shall take all decisions by a unanimous vote, Liberia’s vote not counting in the calculation of such unanimity.

2. Subject to the provisions of Article 18, paragraph 1, and with the exception of the action proposed under Chapter V, all decisions to be taken in virtue of the present Protocol by the Council or the committee appointed by the Council shall be taken by a two-thirds majority.

Article 19

1. The salaries of the foreign specialists will be fixed by the Council of the League of Nations, on the basis of the salaries of the similar officials of neighbouring colonies.

2. Account will be taken of the special conditions which should be granted to officials of international status, and also, of course, of the financial resources available.

3. The foreign experts appointed under the Plan shall be attached to the relevant department concerned and shall work in association with the head of that department.

Article 20

The foreign specialists mentioned in Chapters I and II may be replaced for adequate reasons with the consent of the Council of the League of Nations.

Article 21

Liberia accepts and undertakes, so far as it is concerned, to give effect to the report of Mr. Ligthart, as reproduced in the Annex to the present Protocol.

Article 22

The Liberian Government undertakes forthwith, after the signature of the present Protocol, to lay before the Liberian Legislature a draft law, or to take such other measures as are necessary, to give during the operation of the Plan of Assistance to any Government which may be in power the necessary authority to take all measures which may be necessary to enable full force and effect to be given to all the provisions of the present Protocol and its annexes.

Article 23

In the event of any discrepancy between the English and French texts of the present Protocol or the Annex, the English text shall prevail.

Article 24

1. The present Protocol shall be ratified by Liberia and the instrument of ratification shall be deposited with the Secretariat of the League of Nations.

2. The present Protocol shall not enter into force until the Chairman of the Committee referred to in the Preamble is satisfied that there has been concluded between the Government of Liberia and the Finance Corporation of America an adequate arrangement for financing the Plan of Assistance on the lines indicated in the annexed report of Mr. Ligthart.

3. Subject to the provisions of paragraph 2, the present Protocol shall enter into force as soon as the Government of Liberia has deposited with the Secretary-General of the League of Nations:

i) a declaration signed by the President of the Republic certifying that a law has been enacted or other necessary measures have been taken so as to satisfy the requirements of Article 22 together with a certified true copy of such legislation as has been enacted;

ii) the instrument of ratification of the present Protocol,

or has notified the Secretary-General through diplomatic channels that the said two instruments have been despatched.

4. If the Protocol has not entered into force by . . . . . its entry into force shall require the consent of the Council of the League of Nations.

Done at . . . . . on . . . . . 1933, in a single copy which shall remain deposited in the archives of the League of Nations and of which a certified true copy shall be delivered by the Secretary-General to the Government of Liberia. In faith whereof the undersigned has signed the present Protocol.

Annex to the Draft Protocol Establishing a Plan of Assistance for Liberia

mr. th. ligthart’s report referred to in the protocol^†

1. At its meeting on May 19th, 1933, the Council Committee decided to take advantage of the presence in Europe of special representatives of the Liberian Government, the Finance Corporation of America, and the Firestone Plantations Company, in order to settle the financial questions left open in the scheme drawn up by the Committee (document C.720.1932.VII.) It was suggested that the delegate of the Liberian Government and the representatives of the American groups concerned should begin negotiations as soon as possible, and I was asked to take charge of these negotiations, in collaboration with the Secretariat of the League of Nations.

2. We met in London from June 8th to June 23rd, 1933. The Liberian Government was represented by Mr. Grimes, Secretary of State, and Baron de Lynden, Chargé d’Affaires in London; the Finance Corporation of America by its Vice-President, Mr. L. T. Lyle, and the Firestone Interests by Mr. Harvey Firestone, Jr.

The special representative of the United States Government, General Blanton Winship, has closely followed our proceedings throughout.

I was greatly helped by the presence of Dr. Mackenzie, with whom M. Brunot and I visited Liberia in 1931 and who went there again in 1932.

In drawing up the present report, I have had the opportunity of consulting the Financial Section of the Secretariat of the League of Nations from time to time.

3. In the first instance, we dealt with the minimum budget required by the Liberian Government for its ordinary running expenses. In this connection we discussed the actual budget in application in Liberia for 1933, although this budget is not one sanctioned by the Financial Adviser. This budget totals Lib.$367,800^‡ whereas the estimates worked out by the Finance Corporation provide only for Lib.$281,500^‡

After careful consideration, I came to the conclusion that the figure of Lib.$300,000^‡ a year is sufficient to defray the running expenses of the Liberian Government. My figure is rather higher than that proposed by the Finance Corporation and that suggested in the experts’ report (document C.469.M.238.1932, page 26). This is on the assumption that every possible saving in the budget will, of course, be made.^§

4. Salaries and expenses for loan officials total about Lib.$44,500, as given by the Finance Corporation, and Bank of Commission charges Lib.$7,500.

5. We have also considered the cost of the plan of assistance, and I have reached the conclusion that about $150,000 a year are needed in order to carry out the plan of assistance, This sum includes salaries and travelling expenses to Europe to the amount of U.S.$78,000, the balance being for roads, bridges, public health, etc. (for further particulars, see paragraph 19).^ǁ

The salaries and conditions of service of the foreign League officials are to be those obtaining for white officials of similar rank serving in West Africa, and making allowance for the temporary character of the appointment.

6. We then took up the questions of arrears apart from the loan. In view of the difficult financial position of Liberia, I think that the creditors must make a sacrifice at least of interest on their claims. The first step is to fix the amount of the outstanding claims. I estimate that these total about Lib.$500,000. It seems to me that a provision of a sum not exceeding Lib.$40,000 per annum in the Liberian budget would be a fair settlement for the amortisation of these claims. The details of the funding arrangements to be made with the creditors on these lines should be left to the Liberian Government and the Chief Adviser in consultation with the Financial Adviser.^¶

7. With regard to the interest rate on the loan, the Finance Corporation is prepared to reduce this from 7 per cent to 5 per cent. The interest charge would therefore be in future about U.S.$125,000^** per annum instead of U.S.$175,000. Amortisation will require an additional U.S. $66,000 per annum. Outstanding interest on the loan amounted, on January 1st, 1933, to U.S.$133,000. The Finance Corporation proposes to take up this amount in additional bonds.

8. Funds for the following items have therefore to be provided:

		$	$	$
(1)	Running Government expenses (estimates for the first year)		300,000
(2)	Execution of plan of assistance	150,000
	Salaries and expenses for loan officials	44,500
	Bank Commission charges	7,500	202,000
(3)	Interest on loan		125,000	627,000
(4)	Amortisation of arrears		40,000
(5)	Amortisation of loan		66,000	106,000
	Total			$733,000

9. Estimates for revenues of the fiscal year 1933 total about Lib. $456,500.

I am confident that this amount will be increased considerably by the application of the plan and by a proper administration, as this will lead to a speedy development of the country and its resources.

For the time being we have, however, to face an adverse balance in the budget and to make the necessary provisions to meet this. In this connection it should be borne in mind that the cost of the plan of assistance for the first year will be less than that estimated, as it is proposed that the plan should come into operation gradually.

10. First of all, it is necessary to guarantee that sufficient funds for the salaries of the foreign officials, and other expenses provided for in the plan of assistance, will be available.

I therefore propose that the Finance Corporation by the issue of fresh bonds, should provide an initial fund of U.S.$150,000 as working capital for the operation of the plan; that the amounts withdrawn from this fund should, if possible, be repaid to it out of the Liberian budget; and that, if such replenishment is not possible, the Finance Corporation should in any event by the issue of bonds ensure that the fund shall always be in a position to pay salaries and travelling expenses to Europe of the foreign experts provided for in the plan, estimated at U.S.$78,000 per annum.

Out of this fund should be paid the cost of the plan of assistance, and, in the first place, the salaries of the new foreign officials.

The fund will be paid in a special blocked account of the Liberian Government into a bank to be determined later by the Council committee. The Council committee will equally have to decide the conditions under which the fund has to be administered.^††

11. Under my scheme priority is therefore as follows:

(a)	Ordinary running expenses of the Government (estimates for the first year)	Lib. $300,000
(b)	Cost of the plan of assistance, salaries and expenses of loan officials	U. S. $78,000
	Bank commission charges	Lib. $124,000
(c)	Interest on loan	U.S. $125,000
(d)	Remaining balance:
	One-half to be proportionately allocated:
	To amortisation of arrears of internal debt to an amount not exceeding	Lib. $40,000
	To amortization of the loan	U.S. $66,000
	The other half to be devoted to the development of the country.

If the annual interest on the loan cannot be met out of revenue, it is to be renounced at the end of the corresponding fiscal year.

12. The question of transferring funds from Liberia abroad will probably only arise in respect to a portion of the foreign officials’ salaries, but it will clearly be the duty of the Government of Liberia, the Chief Adviser, and the Financial Adviser to maintain sufficient bullion in the country for the proper operation of the currency.

13. The figures upon which the plan of assistance is based must be subject to reconsideration, at the moment when the plan is brought into force, in the light of the relative values of the currencies concerned at that time and possibly their future prospects. In particular, it is essential that the arrangements made as regards providing and replenishing the working capital fund should be adequate to permit offering conditions of service sufficient to enable suitable foreign experts to be engaged. At present, it is impossible to say what, at any particular moment in the future, will be the relation between the United States dollar and the Liberian dollar, or the gold value of either currency. Accordingly, wherever in the present report a table had to be drawn up showing expenditure both in United States dollars and Liberian dollars, I have treated the United States dollar and the Liberian dollar as equivalent to one another, as they originally were.

14. I have not thought it my duty to consider the merits of the existing loan contract, but have contented myself to find within the given limits of the situation the best solutions for all parties concerned.

Permanent modifications in the Loan Agreement have been discussed independently by the Liberian Government and the Finance Corporation.

A special arrangement is also being made to modify the new loan contract temporarily, so as to bring its provisions into line with the plan of assistance.^‡‡

15. The conditions on which the Finance Corporation is willing to accept my proposals, including the renunciation of interest and the provision of fresh capital, as stated to the Council Committee at its meeting on June 27th, 1933 [are] as follows:

• “(a) That Liberia accept and approve by legislative action the proposed supplementary agreement to the Loan Agreement of 1926^§§ and remove all legislative acts and executive orders in contravention of the Loan Agreement of 1926.
• “(b) That Liberia accept and approve, by legislative action where necessary, the programme of assistance as recommended by the Council Committee on Liberia to the Council of the League of Nations, including the recommendations contained in Mr. Ligthart’s report to the Committee.
• “(c) That Liberia recognise the existing Depository Agreement between the Liberian Government and the United States Trading Company Banking Department, and function in accordance with this agreement.
• “(d) That Liberia concur in Mr. Ligthart’s recommendation that the floating indebtedness be gradually amortised from current revenues without recourse to the issuance of 3 per cent internal bonds.” 16. In regard to the Plantation Contract, I understand from the Firestone Plantations Company’s representative that it is prepared to make the utmost possible allowance for the general interests of Liberia, and that it would be perfectly ready, in consideration of the well-being of the population, to take account of competent opinions. In particular, I understand that the Firestone Plantations Company, during the operation of the plan, will be glad to consult with the Chief Adviser and the Provincial Commissioner concerned in the selection of additional land.^ǁǁ

16. In regard to the Plantation Contract, I understand from the Fire-stone Plantations Company’s representative that it is prepared to make the utmost possible allowance for the general interests of Liberia, and that it would be perfectly ready, in consideration of the well-being of the population, to take account of competent opinions. In particular, I understand that the Firestone Plantations Company, during the operation of the plan, will be glad to consult with the Chief Adviser and the Provincial Commissioner concerned in the selection of additional land.^¶¶

17. If the plan is adopted, I must emphasize the importance of having an undertaking from the Liberian Government that it will submit to the Chief Adviser any proposals that may be made by prospective concessionaries and to give due consideration to any advice he may offer, without, however, undertaking to bind itself by such advice.

18. As a preliminary stage it was necessary to fix the amount of the Liberian budget, and for convenience only I have considered the items of the separate departments of the Government. It is clear, however, that, broadly speaking, the total sum of the budget in proportion to the revenues of Liberia is of more importance than the detailed application of the sums available for the various departments. I anticipate that the details of the amount to be allocated to the individual departments will be considered by the Chief Adviser in consultation with the Liberian Government and the Financial Adviser.^***

19. A detailed estimate for the plan of assistance is given below. It will be seen that the number of staff proposed is that agreed to by the Liberian Government and the Committee. It should be noted, however, that provision is made for two doctors, whereas it was decided that, in the first instance, one doctor only should be appointed, the second post being filled when, in the opinion of the Chief Adviser, funds permitted of this.

It is clear that it is impossible to define a figure for the first year of the working of the plan. My figure represents, therefore, the cost of the plan as adopted when all the appointments have been made.

	U.S. $
Chief Adviser	12,000
Three Commissioners at $8,000 each	24,000
Three assistants at $6,000 each	18,000
Two doctors at $8,000 each	16,000
Travelling expenses	8,000
		U.S. $78,000†††
	Lib.$
Sanitation	10,000
Road construction	54,000
Education medical assistants	3,000
Unforseen	5,000
		Lib. $72,000
Approximate total		$150,000

(Signed)

Th. Ligthart

78. This document constitutes Annex III of the Liberia Committee’s Final Report to the Council of the League of Nations, October 14, 1933. It was forwarded to the Department from Geneva by General Winship with his unnumbered despatch of October 16, not printed. For complete text of the Final Report, see League of Nations, Official Journal, December 1933, p. 1733.
79. It is understood that the Chief Adviser should not belong to the same nationality as the Financial Adviser or to the nationality of any country which has territory adjacent to Liberia. [Footnote in the original.]
80. This report reproduces the essential conclusions reached by Mr. Ligthart in the more comprehensive report on his investigations which he presented to the Committee appointed by the Council to examine the problem raised by the Liberian Government’s request for assistance (Document C./Liberia 39 and C./Liberia 39 (a)). [Footnote in the original.]
81. Exclusive of salaries and expenses for loan officials and of arrears. [Footnote in the original.]
82. Exclusive of salaries and expenses for loan officials and of arrears. [Footnote in the original.]
83. Exclusive of salaries and expenses for loan officials and of arrears. [Footnote in the original.]

84. The Liberian Delegation wished that the minimum budget figure of Lib.$300,000 a year should be raised to Lib.$375,000.

    This amendment has not been retained by the Committee. [Footnote in the original.]

85. The Liberian Government considers that the sum of $150,000 a year for the plan of assistance is excessive.

    The Committee does not agree with this view. [Footnote in the original.]

86. The Liberian Government makes a reservation as regards the question of arrears, as this amount is already provided for by act of the legislature in internal bonds.

    The Committee did not feel able to give effect to this reservation. [Footnote in the original.]

87. Anticipating the issue of further bonds. [Footnote in the original.]

88. The Liberian Government reiterates the reservation it made in May 1932 to the effect that it could not possibly accept a new loan issued under new external bonds.

    The Committee thought it essential to issue the relatively small amount necessary to guarantee the salaries of the foreign experts. [Footnote in the original.]

89. The Liberian Government would hope for further reformation of the two contracts with the Finance Corporation of America and the Firestone Plantation Company respectively.

    The Committee was of opinion that the question of permanent modifications in these contracts is a matter for negotiations between the parties concerned. [Footnote in the original.]

90. The text of this agreement is reproduced at the end of the present document. [Footnote in the original.]

91. The Liberian Government would hope for further reformation of the two contracts with the Finance Corporation of America and the Firestone Plantation Company respectively.

    The Committee was of opinion that the question of permanent modifications in these contracts is a matter for negotiations between the parties concerned. [Footnote in the original.]

92. Same as footnote ǁǁ on previous page. [Footnote in the original.]

93. The Government of Liberia fears that no provision for education is made in the annual budget, and that the schools of the country will be limited to those provided by sundry missionary boards. As this would stagnate the intellectual, spiritual and cultural development of the youth of the country, it finds it impossible to agree to the budget proposed.

    The Committee, emphasizing the importance of education, felt that this question must be left to be decided by the Liberian Government on the advice of the Chief Adviser and the Financial Adviser. [Footnote in the original.]

94. The Liberian Government thinks that the salaries provided for the foreign advisers are too high.

    The Committee did not agree with this view. [Footnote in the original.]