LIBERIA PROPOSED INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF CONTROL IN LIBERIA And Continued NONRECOGNITION OF THE BARCLAY ADMINISTRATION-Continued Date and number 1931 Subject Page Jan. 15 Memorandum by the Chief of the Division of Western European 657 Jan. 16 (9) Jan. 16 (20) British Government's contemplated suggestion to Liberian Government that it ask the League for an international commission of control to take over the country; also that it request a loan from the League. From the Chargé in Liberia (tel.) 659 Inquiry concerning instructions contained in Department's telegram No. 6, January 12. From the Ambassador in France (tel.) 659 Jan. 16 (11) British Embassy's receipt of instructions from London to support any U. S. representations to French Government for cooperation in Liberian slavery situation. To the Chargé in Liberia (tel.) Substance of conversation between Assistant Secretary of State and Ambassadors of France, Germany, Italy, and Japan indicating U. S. policy of nonobjection to a Liberian request for international control. Jan. 17 (12) Jan. 20 (11) Jan. 21 (11) Jan. 22 (12) Jan. 22 (15) 659 To the Chargé in Liberia (tel.) 660 Reply to Chargé's inquiry in his telegram No. 9, January 16. 660 Substance of formal letter from Sottile to the League denying rumors of alleged Liberian reprisals against witnesses who had testified before the Commission. From the Chargé in Liberia (tel.) 661 Representations to Acting President Barclay by the Chargé and his British and German_colleagues regarding the partial and unsatisfactory nature of Liberia's program for compliance with Commission's recommendations. From the Chargé in Liberia (tel.) 662 Expectation that Barclay will request League's aid but will not include a request for a control commission. From the Consul at Geneva (tel.) 663 Report on League Council's consideration of the Liberian question at morning session (decisions being adjourned to a later date). From the British Ambassador 665 Jan. 23 (16) Jan. 23 (19) Information of British Government's expression of displeasure to Liberian Government over the small measure of support accorded to Dr. Smith as Chief Medical Adviser to Liberia. From the Consul at Geneva (tel.) Significant portions of probable report by the rapporteur to the Council suggesting ratification by Liberia of the 1930 Convention on Forced Labor and designation of a small interim committee to study questions of administrative and financial assistance necessary to carry out reforms. 666 LIBERIA PROPOSED INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF CONTROL IN LIBERIA AND CONTINUED NONRECOGNITION OF THE BARCLAY ADMINISTRATION-Continued Date and number Subject Page 1931 Jan. 23 (14) Jan. 24 (21) Jan. 26 (16) From the Chargé in Liberia (tel.) Liberian identic memoranda (text printed) handed to U. S., British, and German representatives stating Liberia's decision to apply to League Council for advisers in various spheres of administration. From the Consul at Geneva (tel.) To the Chargé in Liberia (tel.) 667 668 Council's adoption of report summarized in telegram No. 19, 669 Notification of Council's appointment of the interim committee to study questions of administrative and financial assistance. Jan. 31 (18) From the Minister in Switzerland (tel.) 669 Council's invitation to United States to participate in meetings of the interim committee (text printed). Feb. 2 To the Minister in Switzerland (tel.) 671 (16) U. S. acceptance of invitation (text printed), and appointment of Samuel Reber, Jr., Chargé in Liberia, as representative on the committee. Feb. 13 (22) From the Minister in Switzerland (tel.) 671 Receipt from League of notification (for Reber) of convocation of the Liberian committee at London, February 26. Feb. 14 (31) Feb. 15 (22) From the Consul at Geneva (tel.) 672 Liberia's ratification of the 1930 Convention on Forced From the Vice Consul at Monrovia (tel.) 672 Departure of Attorney General Grimes to collaborate with Feb. 20 (24) To the Vice Consul at Monrovia (tel.) 672 Instructions for the Minister, upon his arrival in Monrovia, 673 Feb. 24 (53) Feb. 25 Feb. 25 (47) From the Ambassador in Great Britain (tel.) From Reber: Postponement of meeting of committee until Memorandum by the Assistant Secretary of State of a Conversa- French Government's desire that it be understood in League To the Ambassador in Great Britain (tel.) For Reber: Desire not to make a decision, in advance of the committee meeting in London, either for or against sending further investigators to Liberia. 674 674 LIBERIA PROPOSED INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF CONTROL IN LIBERIA AND CONTINUED NONRECOGNITION OF THE BARCLAY ADMINISTRATION-Continued Date and Subject Page number 1931 Feb. 27 (55) From the Ambassador in Great Britain (tel.) 675 From Reber: Meeting of the committee, at which consideration was given to question of sending experts to Liberia to make detailed study; adjournment until March 2 for drafting of proposed instructions to experts. Feb. 28 (56) Feb. 28 (57) From the Ambassador in Great Britain (tel.) 676 From Reber: Substance of the draft instructions to experts, as determined by informal discussions. From the Ambassador in Great Britain (tel.) 677 From Reber: Liberian committee's inquiry, for transmittal to Finance Corporation, if loan funds can be made available to a health officer in Monrovia. Feb. 28 (53) To the Ambassador in Great Britain (tel.) 678 For Reber: Transmittal of message to Finance Corporation; U. S. belief that Liberian Government should itself arrange for the requisite funds for a health officer in Monrovia. Feb. 28 (54) To the Ambassador in Great Britain (tel.) 678 Mar. 2 For Reber: Information that United States would raise no objection to the sending of further expert investigators to Liberia, although it had hoped the data available to the committee would be sufficient. Memorandum by Mr. Ellis 0. Briggs of the Division of Western 679 Trans-Atlantic telephone conversation between Mr. Reber in London and Mr. Marriner in Washington regarding the proposed sending of further experts to Liberia. Mar. 3 (59) From the Ambassador in Great Britain (tel.) 679 From Reber: Liberian committee's acceptance in principle of the draft instructions to experts as outlined in telegram No. 56, February 28. Mar. 4 (61) Mar. 11 (70) From the Ambassador in Great Britain (tel.) 680 From Reber: Committee's approval of instructions to experts and resolutions as to immediate sanitary measures. From the Ambassador in Great Britain (tel.) 681 From Reber: Expected arrival in Monrovia of Dr. Howells, British health officer, about March 12; receipt of further queries as to funds. Summary of information and viewpoint conveyed to the Opinion that it would not be desirable for Consul to discuss 681 Finance Corporation's assertion that no request for funds for sanitation has been received from Liberian Government. 681 683 LIBERIA PROPOSED INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF CONTROL IN LIBERIA AND CONTINUED NONRECOGNITION OF THE BARCLAY ADMINISTRATION-Continued Date and number Subject Page 1931 May 2 (33) To the Minister in Liberia (tel.) 683 Instructions to telegraph summary of political situation following Liberian elections, with recommendations as to desirability of presenting credentials. May 6 (36) From the Minister in Liberia (tel.) 683 May 8 (55) Report that incomplete returns indicate election of Edwin Barclay to the Presidency; belief that presentation of credentials would be desirable. From the Chargé in Switzerland (tel.) 684 Intention of the League to put before the Council the report on the work so far accomplished by the Liberian Committee; League's desire to be informed in case United States wishes to arrange participation in Council meeting. May 8 (52) May 21 (72) May 26 (45) To the Chargé in Switzerland (tel.) 685 Desire to be informed by League of any further meeting of the Liberian Committee sufficiently ahead of time if possible to enable an American representative to be present. From the Consul at Geneva (tel.) 685 Résumé of the League Council's consideration of report of the Liberian Committee. From the Minister in Liberia (tel.) 687 Election of Edwin Barclay as President of Liberia and James S. Smith as Vice President, inauguration to be January 4, 1932. May 29 (41) To the Minister in Liberia (tel.) 687 Instructions to continue relations with the present Liberian administration on an informal basis. June 8 (44) July 14 (80) To the Minister in Liberia (tel.) 687 Instructions for guidance in relations with the experts soon to arrive. To the Minister in Switzerland (tel.) 688 Instructions to convey informally to Drummond (Secretary General of League) that U. S. Government is in sympathy with what it understands the experts are endeavoring to accomplish in the nature of reforms. July 24 (59) From the Minister in Liberia (tel.) 689 Information that experts are leaving July 26, having completed investigation. Aug. 14 (100) From the Consul at Geneva (tel.) 690 Enumeration of chief points contained in a communication 691 Aug. 17 (106) Improbability that experts' report can be transmitted to interested countries in time to permit the Liberian Committee to meet and submit recommendations to the forthcoming session of the Council. LIBERIA PROPOSED INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF CONTROL IN LIBERIA And Continued NONRECOGNITION OF THE BARCLAY ADMINISTRATION-Continued Date and number Subject Page 1931 Aug. 19 (92) To the Minister in Switzerland (tel.) 692 Aug. 20 (108) Concern over delay in consideration of experts' report; inquiry if fixing of date of Committee meeting is imminent. From the Minister in Switzerland (tel.) 692 Information that United States will be consulted as to meeting date for Committee; that the hope is for a date toward end of September. From the Minister in Liberia (tel.) 693 Oct. 3 (79) Oct. 6 (52) Oct. 16 (139) President Barclay's inquiry as to U. S. willingness to receive Belief that no useful purpose would be served by visit of a To the Chargé in Switzerland (tel.) Communication from Reber to Under Secretary General of the League (text printed) expressing U. S. concurrence in proposal for meeting of Committee in January, prior to next session of the Council. 694 694 Oct. 31 (104) From the Minister in Liberia 694 Further indications of Liberian Government's desire for formal recognition by U. S. Government. Report of appeal from a council of native chieftains to the League (through U. S. and British Legations) for protection against the administration's alleged inhuman treatment. Dec. 12 (167) To the Chargé in Switzerland (tel.) 697 Message for Drummond (text printed) indicating that American member of the Liberian Committee is prepared to participate in the Committee's meeting in January. 697 Dec. 17 (57) Dec. 18 (88) Dec. 21 (58) To the Minister in Liberia (tel.) Receipt of information through Consul at Geneva of Liberian efforts to have meeting of Committee postponed until April 1932; Department's reply to Consul (text printed) giving opinion that postponement would be most unfortunate. From the Minister in Liberia (tel.) 698 Information that new administration will take office on To the Minister in Liberia (tel.) 698 Dec. 21 (59) Receipt of information from Consul at Geneva that League To the Minister in Liberia (tel.) 699 Instructions not to participate in inaugural ceremonies, in view of U. S. nonrecognition of the Barclay Administration. |