776.5/8–1050
The Liberian Chargé (Bright) to the Secretary of State 1
Mr. Secretary: Since the discussion which took place between the King–Tolbert Mission2 and the United States Government in February of 1949, when the question of the defense of Liberia was taken up and the Government of Liberia sought the assistance of the United States of America in reorganizing and improving the status of its National Defense, World developments have taken such a trend as to convince the Government of Liberia beyond a doubt that wisdom dictates timely action be taken now as a safe-guard and a deterrent against what are happening elsewhere.
It is the obligation of every Government to provide adequate protection for its citizens, and of the interests of other nationals within its borders; and when this protection is beyond its powers to provide, to seek it from some other and friendly source.
The obligations which the Government of the United States of America through the United Nations has undertaken in the interest of World Order have caught the admiration of the entire Free World.
In this period of World Crisis, Liberia is happy to find herself, as she has always been throughout the entire period of her history, at the side of the United States of America with which she has a common cultural and traditional tie. This is no matter of accident since both are peace loving peoples, abhor wars and long for a protracted period of World tranquility in order to achieve their destiny.
The Government of Liberia therefore looks forward to a careful consideration of the proposals contained in the Memorandum appended3 and is ready and willing at any time for action looking towards their consummation.
Please accept [etc.]
- Chargé Bright handed this note to Burton Y. Berry, Director of the Office of African and Near Eastern Affairs, on August 10.↩
- William R. Tolbert, member of the Liberian House of Representatives, visited the United States in February 1949 as a special representative of Liberian President Tubman. Together with then Liberian Minister Charles D. B. King, Tolbert held discussions with American officials on a Liberian request for military assistance.↩
- Chargé Bright’s note of August 10, to the Secretary of State, infra.↩