882.01 Foreign Control/682: Telegram
The Consul at Geneva (Gilbert) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 13—10:25 a.m.]
250. From General Winship. My telegram No. 248, October 13, 10 a.m.74 I consider that the changes in the London text do not modify this [Page 943] document in any essential degree and I urge that the Firestone interests immediately signify their endorsement. The Council will probably deal with the matter tomorrow afternoon and it would obviously be exceedingly desirable for the reply of the company to be received in time for the rapporteur to make a statement then on their behalf.
A very lengthy “report to the Council” is being prepared by the Committee. It will probably include in addition to an outline of the relevant material from the report of last June, a detailed consideration of each of the present Liberian contentions accompanied by an explanation describing why the Committee found it impossible to accept them. I consider that this will be very useful in connection with consideration of the plan by the Liberian Government.
The Committee reaffirmed the conclusions reached in Ligthart’s report, and explanations regarding these will probably also be included in the report of the Council.
With respect to the amount necessary for the operating expenses of the Government, the figure of $300,000 was retained with the understanding that this could be revised up or down by the Chief Adviser in consultation with the Financial Adviser and the Liberian Government in accordance with the financial condition of the country. I have asked Hines to communicate with Mr. Firestone on my behalf informing him that I thought that notwithstanding the action by the Committee it would have a splendid effect if he were to authorize a statement that his interests would be willing to accept a figure of $325,000 or perhaps $350,000 provided such appreciable amount as might be agreed upon by the Financial Adviser and the Chief Adviser should be devoted specifically to education. I hope that a favorable reply may be received in time for it to be communicated to the Council tomorrow.
With reference to the question of the nationality of the Adviser, it was determined that while a statement of Liberian views should appear in the report no reference would be made to any specific country by name. The reference will apply to Great Britain, France and the United States. With respect to the objection raised by Firestone to a Dutchman, please refer to Cecil’s letter of September 27, 1932,75 which in my opinion fully covers that situation as Cecil, with whom I have discussed the matter, will undoubtedly bring that to the attention of the Council when consideration is given to the appointment of the Chief Adviser. It would appear most inappropriate in the circumstances for us to raise the question further or for the Firestones to refer to it in their acceptance. [Winship.]
- Not printed.↩
- Foreign Relations, 1932, vol. ii, p. 764.↩