Papers relating to the foreign relations of the United States, 1929, Volume III

882.5048/20: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Minister in Liberia ( Francis )

Washington , June 5, 1929—6 p.m.

5. The Department has received and examined your memorandum of March 22, the confidential report on Liberian conditions submitted by Dr. Patton to the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, and your confidential telegram to Mr. Castle of April 20.² It is the Department’s belief that the serious situation set out in the foregoing reports justifies earnest representations to the Liberian Government which, by reason of its historic relationship to that Government, the Government of the United States should be in a position to give without being charged with unfriendliness. You will therefore formally present the following note to the Liberian Government unless you perceive controlling reasons why this should not be done at the present time. In that event please take no action without first communicating with the Department and requesting further instructions.

“I am directed by the Secretary of State to advise Your Excellency that there have come to the attention of the Government of the United States from several sources reports bearing reliable evidence of authenticity which definitely indicate that existing conditions incident to the so-called ‘export’ of labor from Liberia to Fernando Po have resulted in the development of a system which seems hardly distinguishable from organized slave trade, and that in the enforcement of this system the services of the Liberian frontier force and the services and influence of certain high government officials are constantly and systematically used. Indeed the reports reaching the Department of State would indicate that these conditions of forced labor are not confined to labor exported to Fernando Po but are general throughout the Republic of Liberia, particularly in the interior where forced labor procured with the assistance of the Liberian frontier force and high government officials is reported to have become a common and usual practice.

It is unnecessary to point out the condemnation of the governments and peoples of the world which would fall upon Liberia if the Liberian Government should fail to act promptly and energetically to correct any such labor conditions as are pictured in the reports which come to the Department. Indeed it is almost certain that in the present temper of the world regarding slavery, it might not be possible to withhold the governments of the world from considering that some effective affirmative action should, if necessary, be invoked by them to terminate a situation such as has been described in the reports to the Department, a course which could not fail to react in a far reaching way upon the future of Liberia. It would be tragically ironic if Liberia whose existence was dedicated to the principle of human liberty should succumb to practices so closely akin to those which its founders sought forever to escape.

The historic special interest of the United States in the welfare and progress of Liberia which has continued down to the present without interruption, has been repeatedly demonstrated whenever it has appeared that the existence of Liberia was threatened, and notable reference to it was made in President King’s message to the Liberian legislature last autumn.

The Government of the United States, because of its century-old friendship for Liberia, is impelled urgently to call the attention of the Liberian Government to this matter and to impress upon it the vital importance and necessity of reforming without delay the social conditions reported to exist, and the Government of the United States does not doubt that the Liberian Government will be prompt to appreciate the situation and to take all appropriate measures to this end. Such measures should include the prompt ratification of the Slavery Convention signed at Geneva September 25, 1926,³ to which the Liberian Government is already signatory, and appropriate enforcement of its principles; the material alteration or radical change in interpretation of the present agreement with Spain⁴ regarding the recruitment of laborers for Fernando Po; a rigorous investigation of forced labor conditions throughout Liberia, a drastic reform and reorganization of the Frontier Force and of the administration of labor and of the interior, and the prompt and condign punishment of all persons, regardless of their position, who may be found to have aided in the development of forced labor conditions so closely resembling slavery and so repugnant to the moral sense of mankind. The Government of the United States is confident that the Republic of Liberia will act promptly and effectively to vindicate its good name and to eliminate a condition which if continued threatens grave consequences to Liberia.”

You may rely with assurance upon the fullest possible support from the Department in making the foregoing representations.

Stimson

2. None printed.
3. Foreign Relations, 1928, vol. i, p. 417.
4. Signed at Monrovia on May 22, 1914.