Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress with the Annual Message of the President, December 2, 1872, Part I

No. 253.
Mr. Turner to Mr. Fish.

Legation of the United’ States,
. Monrovia, Liberia, October 25, 1871. (Received Nov. 27.)

No. 18.]

Sir: Notwithstanding the official dispatch conveying to me the information that “a revolution exists in Liberia” bears date the 23d of October, it has but this moment been forwarded to me. The immediate departure of the mail steamer precludes the possibility of any statement from me by this mail other than that set forth by the inclosed correspondence.

I have, &c.

J. MILTON TURNER.

[Inclosure No 1.]

Mr. Lewis to Mr. Turner.

Department of State,
Monrovia, October 23, 1871.

Sir: By direction of the President I have to inform you that on the night of the 22d instant a round of grape-shot was tired into his mansion, and that a public meeting, held in this city this day, has requested him to resign his office of President immediately.

Your excellency will readily observe, without further remarks from me, that a revolution exists in Liberia. I have, &c., &c.,

JOHN LEWIS,
Secretary of State.

[Inclosure No. 2.]

Mr. Turner to Mr. Lewis.

Legation of the United States,
Monrovia, Liberia, October 25, 1871.

Sir: Your official communication bearing date October 23, and conveying to this legation information to the effect that the residence of his excellency E. J. Roye, President of Liberia, had been fired into with “a round of grape-shot,” and that a public meeting had been held “in this city “on the 23d instant, the action of which was to request his excellency the President to resign his office as President, and calling my official attention to the fact that a “revolution now exists in Liberia,” is received. In reply, I beg most respectfully to state that the policy adopted by the Government of the United States toward other governments whose subjects were in a state of rebellion is that of strict neutrality. I therefore do assure you, sir, that in pursuance of said policy, my official conduct toward the government of Liberia, and the citizens thereof, during the existence of the “revolution” referred to in your dispatch, shall be exclusively controlled by those international laws laying down the course proper to be pursued by neutral powers in such cases.

With sentiments of esteem, I have, &.c, &c,

• J. MILTON TURNER.
• General J. M. Lewis,
  Secretary of State.