882.01 Foreign Control/202: Telegram
The Consul at Geneva (Gilbert) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 27—12:37 a.m.]
37. [From Reber.] With little further discussion it was decided at the meeting today that the preliminary reading of the report10 should be begun and that after that had taken place the Committee could decide as to its procedure. The experts were first called upon to make introductory statements and in general these statements followed the main lines of the report.
Ligthart in concluding his explanation of the deplorable situation of Liberian finance stated that foreign financial aid essential. He [Page 697] then explained that he understood the Finance Corporation would not be unwilling to discuss a modification of the loan agreement and to examine the possibility of advancing further funds under adequate guarantee.
During the reading of the report Liberia contended that the experts did not study the situation in close touch with its Government and were influenced by the discontented element. Brunot denied this unequivocally. In discussing the danger existing, owing to the opposition between the Americo-Liberians and the natives, Grimes minimized this and stated that there was little unrest or trouble.
Brunot emphatically claimed that a very serious danger to Liberia existed and charged that the Liberian Government was oppressing and maltreating its indigenous population. In fact he asserted he had evidence to show that reproach [reprisals?] had been committed upon natives who had given testimony not only to the International Commission of Inquiry but to his own Committee of Experts. He then presented evidence to support his charges.
Grimes denied that his Government had taken any measures of reprisals whatsoever and expressed the hope that any information which would lead the Committee to entertain contrary views would be submitted.
At this point the meeting was adjourned to meet tomorrow morning.
I learn, however, that the British Government has submitted for circulation tomorrow to the Committee a summary of information received by His Majesty’s Government regarding the unrest in 1931 in the Kru country of Liberia which concludes with the following statement:
“Really satisfactory investigation is hardly practicable, but it would seem impossible to acquit the Government authorities on the spot of both ruthlessness and incompetence”.
I consider that it might be of considerable advantage at this point if I be permitted to present to the Committee as a communication from my Government a similar summary which would include reports received from Monrovia and charges made against the Government by representatives of the native tribes.11 Unless some such communication is presented at the earliest possible opportunity it may give the appearance that the American Government as a member of the Committee accepts the denials made by Grimes and [Page 698] Sottile. I propose at tomorrow’s meeting merely to explain that reports from Monrovia indicate considerable [unrest?] among the native tribes who are awaiting with impatience the results of this Committee’s investigations and proposals. This statement may be elaborated somewhat but will not include any reference to reprisals or ruthless activities of the Liberian Government until further instructions are received. [Reber.]
- The report of the experts, League of Nations, Official Journal, July 1932, p. 1359.↩
- See telegram No. 11, January 20, 1931, 2 p.m., from the Consul at Geneva, Foreign Relations, 1931, vol. ii, p. 660.↩