Mr. Spurgeon to Mr.
Hay.
Legation of the United States,
Monrovia Liberia, April
18, 1900.
No. 81, diplomatic series.]
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt April 12, 1900, of your No. 46, of March 8, 1900, relative to
the request of the Belgian Government for the adhesion of the Government
of Liberia to the convention of June 8, 1899. In regard to the above, it
is my pleasure to transmit to you the original dispatch from the
secretary of state at Monrovia, in reply to mine (a copy of which is
also inclosed), acknowledging the ratification by the Liberian
Government of the said act, and requesting the Government of the United
States to notify the Belgian Gevernment of Liberia’s adhesion.
During a personal interview with the secretary of state I was informed
that the matter had not before been brought to the attention of the
Liberian Government.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1.]
Mr. Spurgeon to
Mr. Gibson.
Legation of the United States,
Monrovia Liberia, April 12, 1900.
Sir: I have the honor to say that in view
of the fact that on June 8, 1900, the limit of time fixed for the
exchange of ratifications of the convention of June 8, 1899,
regulating the importation of spirituous liquors into certain
regions of Africa will have expired, the Government of the United
States authorizes me, in the use of its good offices, to communicate
to the Liberian Government the request of the Belgian Government for
Liberia’s adhesion to the convention of June 8, 1899. While the
Government of the United States communicates the Belgian
Government’s request for such action as the Liberian Government may
be pleased to take, and while the Government of the United States
disclaims any purpose to advise or influence Liberia’s course, yet,
Mr. Secretary of State, I am glad to inform you that in the interest
of Africa and its people the sentiment of the Government of the
United States is in favor of the measure, as in fact its influence
was largely instrumental in bringing about the modification of the
general act of July 2, 1890, in a more restrictive sense than it was
first found practicable to agree upon.
Your excellency will permit me to suggest that inasmuch as it was at
the instance of the delegates of the United States to the conference
of 1889–90 that the Republic of Liberia was invited to adhere to the
general act signed on July 2, 1890, the Government of the United
States should know on an early date the will and pleasure of the
Liberian Government relative to its adhesion to the court of June 8,
1899.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 2.]
Mr. Spurgeon to
Mr. Gibson.
Legation of the United States,
Monrovia Liberia, April 13, 1900.
Sir: I have the honor to herewith transmit
to you, in keeping with your verbal request of even date, the copy
of the convention of June 8, 1899, on which I have previously
communicated with you.
I have, etc.,
[Page 780]
[Subinclosure.]
Mr. Gibson to
Mr. Spurgeon.
Department of State,
Monrovia Liberia, April 17, 1900.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt of your communication of the 12th instant, referring to the
convention of June, 1899, regulating the importation of spirituous
liquors into certain regions of Africa and inquiring whether or not
the Government of Liberia adheres to the said convention.
In reply I have to say that the subject of your dispatch has had the
careful consideration of the Executive Government and I have the
pleasure of recording the adhesion of this State to a measure that
has so important a bearing upon the welfare of Africa and the negro
race.
Your excellency will please transmit this information to the Belgian
Government having charge of collecting the adhesions of the
Governments to the said convention.
I have, etc.,
G. W. Gibson, Secretary of State.
