751.8215/209
The Minister in Liberia (Hood) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 10.]
Diplomatic
Sir: This Legation has the honor to herewith submit a protest64 against certain alleged aggressive acts of the French Republic upon the peace and territory of Liberia and requesting that the good offices of the United States be exercised in procuring a peaceful adjustment of the situation. This situation as set forth in this protest is sustained by documentary evidence and well known facts which can be authenticated by the testimony of many living witnesses, especially the American officers who have in recent years and are now serving as commanders of the Liberian Frontier Forces.
The whole question is daily becoming more acute and threatening to assume proportions which will make future settlement more difficult.
After careful study of this whole situation during the past four years there seems very little room for doubt as to what the ultimate intention of the French Republic is. The history of this matter will show that almost each time any question has come up for settlement, the stronger power forced its will upon the weaker.
In 1885, the French Government made a claim to large parts of Liberian territory. In 1892 Liberia by a forced treaty was compelled to relinquish.
[Page 496]Difficulties again arose in 1895 resulting in a treaty in 1908 which again took a large portion of Liberian territory because Liberia was unable to sustain what she considered her just claim.
As stated in the enclosed protest, the French Government although having had all the advantage of the former decisions, claimed the agreement of 1908 defective. The Liberian Government objected to the reopening of the question but was compelled under French threat of forcible annexation to acquiesce.
The formula for rectification was set forth in an act of 1911 and carried out in 1915 when certain questions arose with regard to a town called Zinta which the French demanded should [not?] be included in Liberian territory upon the claim that the 11° 50′ meridian West of Paris was inaccurate though the result of the findings of their own Commission.
Since 1915 strenuous efforts have been made to have a final settlement which have been only delayed by the French Government.
In view of the long standing and continued irritation between the two countries involved, and that it has each year become more acute until now it reaches a threatening situation, it would therefore seem if there could be an intervention by a friendly power to settle the difficulty it would be eminently desirable. In this case the Liberian Government has naturally turned to the United States.
Relying upon the traditional relationship and oft avowed friendly interest of the American Government, especially now in the light of present development, Liberia has presented this protest with the hope that the United States may find some way to adjust this matter.
It is believed that an indication from the United States to France that the American Government would look with disfavor upon any further aggression by the French Republic and discountenance anything that provoked trouble on the Franco-Liberian boundary would once for all put an end to a long standing difficulty and settle a question of territorial sovereignty.
In this connection it is also believed if the United States, if consistent with our policy, could be accepted by both parties as an arbiter and use its good offices the matter could be decided without further delay.
I have [etc.]
- Not printed.↩