File No. 763.72111W74/8
The Ambassador in Great Britain (Page) to the Secretary of State
London, August 24, 1914.
[Received August 25, 4:05 a.m.]
[Telegram]
471. The Liberian Minister brings me a letter from the British Foreign Office saying that Great Britain supports the French request that Liberia close the German wireless station at Monrovia or prohibit its use for cipher messages or messages of an unneutral character. The Liberian Minister wishes me to ask the advice of the Government of the United States. The French also have a wireless station at Monrovia. Both France and Germany have also cable stations there. The Liberian Minister informs me also that a group of Liberian citizens were caught in Germany by the war and were prevented from securing money to go home. They are in London and need $2,000. He asks whether the United States Government will advance this sum on the Minister’s pledge that the Liberian Government will repay it through the receiver general. I fear the Liberians lean rather heavily on us.