882.124A/48

Memorandum by the Chief of the Division of Western European Affairs (Marriner)

Mr. Harvey Firestone, Jr., telephoned from Akron to say that they had just received news, as has the Department, of the death of [Page 317] Sibley37 and of the French Consul38 in Monrovia of yellow fever. They had likewise heard that the condition of the American Minister remained about the same.39

Mr. Firestone said that there still remained some $150,000 to $200,000 on the loan for public improvements and that he thought under the circumstances it would be a desirable idea for this Government to suggest to the Liberian Government that some portion of this money be used to employ a proper Sanitary Engineer or Doctor who should be given sufficient authority to clear up the conditions which bring about recurrent epidemics of yellow fever. He said that on the plantation where the sanitation has been properly cared for, the disease has been practically eliminated, but that Monrovia seems of late to have been suffering more and more and such efforts as the Liberians make are spasmodic and not scientific.

J. T[heodore] M[arriner]
  1. Dr. James L. Sibley, an American citizen, Educational Adviser to Liberia.
  2. P. Jourdain, French Acting Consul.
  3. The Minister, William T. Francis, died of yellow fever July 15, 1929.