882.01 Foreign Control/656a
The Secretary of State to President Roosevelt 61
My Dear Mr. President: Since my memorandum to you of August 1562 on our Liberian policy, some changes have taken place in the situation there. General Winship returned to Monrovia, accompanied by Doctor Mackenzie representing the League of Nations, in the hope that jointly they might persuade Barclay to accept the plan of assistance as prepared on June 27, and to call a special session of the Legislature for its ratification. This he has declined to do as he considers certain of the features objectionable. He has been supported and encouraged in this position by the more aggressive groups in the United States opposing the plan. He has, therefore, returned the plan to Geneva for discussion before the Council of the League, giving his representative there full [Page 934] power to accept provided the objectionable features are removed or materially modified. General Winship informs me that the principal Liberian objections are:
- (First) Too wide authority for League officials, which would result in “virtually destroying the sovereignty of the Republic.”
- (Second) An American, the chief adviser.
- (Third) Increase in debt to Firestone interests represented by issue of $150,000 Finance Corporation bonds to provide working capital fund.
- (Fourth) Alleged excessive cost of plan, coupled with reduction to $300,000 (recommended by Ligthart) of the budget for annual ordinary operating expenses of the government.
We are still convinced that from our point of view some form of international cooperation is the best solution of this problem and we believe that there are certain modifications in the plan which we can accept and still retain its general form. General Winship is en route to Geneva, and while events there may alter the situation considerably, we should like your approval in principle to the following line of action: To instruct General Winship
- (1)
- To oppose modification of the powers granted the Chief Adviser since any weakening of these will destroy the effectiveness of the plan. (The fact that the Chief Adviser will be responsible to the League and that the term of the proposed plan is five years would seem to dispose of the sovereignty objection.)
- (2)
- To acquiesce on behalf of the United States Government in the appointment of a neutral adviser, i.e., one from a nation not having special interests in Liberia or territory contiguous thereto.
- (3)
- To support a larger budget estimate for Liberia with a clearly specified sum for education.
I am [etc.]