882.73/19
The Chargé in Liberia (Bundy) to the Secretary of
State
[Monrovia,] November 29,
1918.
[Received February
4, 1919.]
No. 272
Sir: Supplemental to Legation’s despatch
No. 269, dated Nov. 18, 1918, and in confirmation of its cable of
Nov. 29, 5 p.m., I have the honor to transmit herewith copy of a
communication received from the President of Liberia relative to the
request of the French Cable Company to connect and use at Monrovia
the old German Cable line which the German South American Cable Co.
operated, before the war, between Monrovia and Pernambuco,
Brazil.
From the President’s communication the definite proposition of the
French Cable Company, whose exact name is “Compagnie Des Cables
Sud-Americains”, now appears to be as follows:
Permission is requested to attach a new section to the sea end of the
cable from Pernambuco, at the point where it is cut, reported to be
less than ten miles from Monrovia, and connect the land end of this
new section on the beach at Monrovia to an unused line already laid
between the cable office in this city and the point on the beach
where the new section will emerge from the sea.
The Liberian Government is not disposed to grant the permission
requested for several reasons which are clearly set forth in the
enclosure. And upon these reasons the President of Liberia requests
the Government of the United States to support the position taken by
Liberia with reference to this matter.
I have [etc.]
[Enclosure]
President Howard to the American Chargé
(Bundy)
Monrovia, November 27, 1918.
Sir: I feel impelled to bring to your
attention for the immediate information of your Government, the
fact that the South American
[Page 508]
Cable Company is persistently exercising
efforts to secure possession and control of the German Cable
Station at Monrovia and the cable line connecting Monrovia with
Pernambuco.
The Superintendent of the French Cable Station approached this
Government very shortly after the declaration of War upon
Germany by Liberia with a proposal for taking over the entire
German Cable plant and of operating it in conjunction with its
own. This proposal was definitely declined. This company has now
renewed its efforts, but it has apparently abandoned the idea of
using the buildings or other property of this station.
The German Cable between Monrovia and Pernambuco was cut a few
miles from the Liberian shore during the latter part of 1915.
The French Cable Company now desires to connect up the sea-end
of this cable with their shore station and to operate this line
from their own plant, thereby linking up South America with
their present system. The Superintendent of the French Company
has stated that, in the event the Liberian Government refuse to
grant permission to make this connection, this same sea-end will
be attached to the cable station at Konakry and Liberia will be
isolated, so far as this line is concerned. This fresh proposal
obviously has the approval of and is being urged by the French
Government, for the French Chargé d’Affaires has verbally
corroborated the position of the Superintendent, and presses for
action on the part of the Liberian Government.
The Government of Liberia is wholly opposed to giving its consent
to any proposition which will mean the transfer of this cable or
any of the property of the station itself to the French Cable
Company. This company already has its own very extensive system,
and it is hardly to be expected that it would be to the best
interests of the Republic to place the German Cable also under
the control of this company, thereby creating a monopoly of
submarine communication.
Other considerations of great import prevent the Liberian
Government from entertaining the proposal of the French Cable
Company:
- 1.
- This German Cable Plant and line form a most valuable
security, and its present possession by the Liberian
Government gives assurance of an equitable adjustment of
its claims resulting from the visit of the German
submarine, its bombardment of Monrovia and for the
sinking of the Schooner President
Howard.
- 2.
- This property having come into the hands of the
Liberian Government as a sequel to its declaration of
war upon Germany, it does not feel that the same should
be transferred, as is desired by the French Cable
Company, or finally disposed of without reference
[Page 509]
to the general
settlement of interests which will undoubtedly be the
concern of the Peace Conference, nor that in any event
should such a step be taken except upon the advice of
the Government of the United States.
- 3.
- Should events ultimately place this station in the
permanent possession of the Liberian Government as its
just property, and should the Government not desire to
operate it for and on its own behalf, it is hoped that
the Government of the United States will in some manner
undertake to reopen this station. In this connection, it
is believed that this arrangement may be feasibly
carried out in view of the recent credit established for
Liberia by the Government of the United States.
- 4.
- The German Cable Station was erected and was being
operated by virtue of concessional rights granted by the
Legislature. These rights cannot be fully transferred,
therefore, without reference to that Body, and the right
to operate a cable line from Monrovia to Pernambuco is
essentially what the French Cable Company is now seeking
in its efforts to gain the control of this
station.
- 5.
- The Liberian Government feels that in the past it has
not derived sufficient benefit from the privileges it
has from time to time conferred by these concessions,
and, considering its commercial and strategic value, the
future disposition of this station is a subject which
the Liberian Government is determined to take under
careful advisement in conjunction with the financial and
economic rehabilitation which must follow the
application of the $5,000,000.00 credit.
I sincerely trust that the views of the Government of the United
States on this matter may fully accord with our own, and that it
will see its way clear to support the position of the Liberian
Government in its efforts to thus safeguard its obvious
interests.
Cordially and sincerely yours,
