Mr. Coolidge to Mr.
Foster.
Legation of
the United States,
Paris, December 9, 1892.
(Received December 19.)
No. 91.]
Sir: Some time ago I learned privately that
negotiations were going on between France and Liberia. On inquiry, I found
that Baron de Stein was the authorized agent on the part of the Republic of
Liberia to settle with France the long-pending questions of boundary. I had
an interview with this gentleman during the negotiations, which were
yesterday brought to a satisfactory conclusion.
By a treaty, which was to be signed on the 8th instant, Liberia cedes to
France the seacoast east of the Cavally River, and receives in exchange
certain extension of territory in the interior. She receives an indemnity
[Page 297]
of 25,000 francs and France
recognizes the sovereignty of the Republic within the boundary lines as now
agreed upon by the treaty.
It is evident that the French have obtained from Liberia concessions of some
importance, for the seacoast is the only part of the country which is worth
anything, for the present, at least. But, on the other hand, the territory
ceded was entirely unsettled by Liberia. France laid claim to it by treaties
with the native chiefs, and the 25,000 francs were welcome.
It is certainly to the advantage of the little Republic to have this
troublesome matter settled once for all in a friendly manner with her
powerful neighbor. I have no doubt that the growing desire of France for
laying the foundation of a future colonial empire in Africa would make it
much more difficult to obtain later on such terms as these, and I have not
hesitated to say so to Baron de Stein. The energetic protest made by the
Government of the United States on the 13th of July, as reported in No. 26
of July 22 has, I think, induced the French to make the present
settlement.
I inclose herewith an English copy of the treaty which Mr. de Stein furnished
me before it was signed; he will send, later on, a map upon which the new
boundary lines are delineated.
He claims that he has increased very much the size of the Republic.
I have, etc.
[Inclosure in No. 91.]
convention between the government of france and
the republic of liberia.
The undersigned, Mr. Hanotaux, minister and plenipotentiary director of
commercial affairs and of consulates at the ministry of foreign affairs
of the French Republic, and Mr. Haussman, chief of division at the under
secretariate of state of the colonies of the French Republic, and the
Baron von Stein, minister resident of the Republic of Liberia in
Belgium, commissioner of the Liberian Republic to the Government of the
French Republic, to the effect of preparing an understanding relative to
the delimitations of the French possessions and of the territories of
the Republic of Liberia, have agreed to the following arrangement on
both sides, subject to the ratification of the respective
governments:
Article I.
On the Ivory coast and in the interior the frontier line between the
French possessions and the Republic of Liberia will be constituted as
follows, in conformity to the tracing in red on the map annexed to the
present convention in duplicate, and marked as follows:
- (1)
- By the thalweg from the Cavally River up to a point situated
about 20 miles to the south of the confluence of the river
Fodedongon-Ba at the intersection of 6° 30ʹ of latitude north
and of 9° 12ʹ longitude west of Paris.
- (2)
- By the parallel passing through the said point of intersection
up to the conjunction of 10° of longitude west of Paris, it
being understood that in every case that the basin of the Great
Sestcre River belongs to Liberia and that the basin of the
Fodedongon-Ba belongs to France.
- (3)
- By the meridian 10° up to its conjunction with latitude 7°
north. From this point the frontier will run in direct line
towards the point of intersection of 11° with the parallel which
passes through Tembicounda, it being understood that the town of
Bamaquilla and the town of Mahomondon will belong to the
Republic of Liberia, the points of Naala and of Monsardon
belonging to France.
- (4)
- The frontier will then take the direction towards the west
following the same parallel until its conjunction with the 13°
of longitude west of Paris with the Franco-English frontier of
Sierra Leone. This line will in any event assure to France the
entire basin of the Niger and of its affluents.
[Page 298]
Article II.
The navigation on the river Cavalla to its confluence with the
Fodedongon-Ba will he free to shipping and open for the inhabitants of
both countries.
France will have the right of erecting at its own expense on the water
way (thalweg) or on one or the other bank of the Cavally the works which
may be necessary to render it navigable, it being, however, perfectly
understood that this fact will in no way infringe the rights of
sovereignty, which on the right side belong to Liberia. In case the
execution of such works should give rise to the establishment of taxes
these would be determined by a new understanding between the two
governments.
Article III.
France renounces all rights which she possesses from the ancient treaties
concluded on different points of the Seed coast (Cote des Grains) and
recognizes the sovereignty of the Republic of Liberia on the whole coast
to the west of the Cavally River.
The Republic of Liberia abandons on its part all pretensions which it
might claim to the territories of the Ivory coast situated to the east
of the Cavally River.
Article IV.
The Government of Liberia, as in the past, will facilitate to the extent
of its means the free engagements of laborers on the Liberian coast for
the French Government or its subjects. Reciprocally the same facilities
are granted to Liberia by the French Government on the French part of
the Ivory coast.
Article V.
In recognizing to the Republic of Liberia the limits which have been
fixed, the Government of the French Republic declares that it only
intends engaging itself towards the Republic of Liberia free and
independent and makes all its reserves for the case that this
independence would be impaired or in the case that the Republic of
Liberia should alienate any part of the territories which are recognized
to it by the present convention.
Done at Paris, December 8, 1892, etc.
The French text will exclusively serve as evidence.
Special Clauses.
I.
The Government of Liberia having incurred certain expenses of
establishment on the part of the coast which is to the east of Cavally,
France promises to pay to the Government of the Liberian Republic a sum
of 25,000 francs as an indemnity.
II.
In case princes or chiefs of aborigines whose states are placed in the
territory belonging to France should take refuge on the territories
recognized to the Republic of Liberia by the convention of the________,
all facilities consistent with the dignity of free independent state
will be afforded to France for the pursuit and capture of fugitives.
