740.0011 European War 1939/32720: Telegram
The Minister in Liberia (Walton) to the Secretary of State
[Received 3:40 p.m.]
16. Legation’s telegram, No. 12, January 13, 7 p.m.2 At the call of President Tubman the State Council composed of representative Liberians from all sections of the Republic met today and approved action of Cabinet in favoring adherence to the United Nations Declaration.3
I am in receipt of a formal note from Secretary of State Dennis under date of January 15, in parts as follows:
“There exist apprehensions which seem not to be without justification from the sinking of ships by German submarines off our coast, and in some instances within our territorial waters, of probable submarine attacks by day or night and by naval craft that might successfully slip through, as acts of retaliation for such a declaration when made.
The Government would therefore be grateful were you to telegraph the above information to your Government and ascertain if immediate assistance other than what is at present in operation could be procured and guaranteed; that is to say, my Government desires to know if your Government would provide, immediately upon the Declaration4 being made, sufficient craft as may be necessary for controlling our coastal waters as additional protection, especially at nights, to Robertsport, Monrovia, Buchanan, Sasstown, Rivercress, Grandcress, Greenville and Harper.
It is also the desire of my Government to have direct telephone communications established between Camp of USAFIL5 and Central Government at Monrovia.”
- Not printed.↩
- Signed at Washington, January 1, 1942, Foreign Relations, 1942, vol. i, p. 25.↩
- i.e., adherence to the United Nations Declaration.↩
- Headquarters of the United States Army Forces in Liberia.↩