Minister Lyon to the Secretary of State.
Monrovia, Liberia, May 24, 1906.
Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith a copy of the joint resolution, touching the subject of immigration, enacted by the Liberian Legislature at its recent session. This information is of vital importance to a class of American citizens in certain sections of the United States where the question of emigration to Liberia is being agitated. We are always receiving letters from individuals, as well as organizations, asking for information. Many go as far as to ask the American minister either to arrange or to assist in their transportation from the United States to Liberia, and seem quite annoyed when they are informed that this can not be done. Others have the idea that the American Legation was established to aid in the deportation of colored people from the United States to Liberia. Inability to cooperate in this direction begets the opposition of its promoters.
JOINT RESOLUTION Regulating immigrants’ expenses.
It is resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Republic of Liberia in Legislature assembled:
- Section 1. That from and immediately after the passage of this joint resolution, any immigrant or immigrants coming into the Republic of Liberia must first take oath of allegiance to the Republic and abjuration of the sovereign of state whence he comes, after which he may receive aid from the Government as such. The immigrant agent or agents shall keep a true and correct account of all expenses incurred for the benefit of said immigrant or immigrants. He shall make a quarterly report in duplicate of all money or monies, goods, wares, and merchandise received for and on account of said immigrant or immigrants, stating specifically what he received and paid out. The original report shall be forwarded to the secretary of the treasury, and the duplicate to the superintendent of the county, territory, or district where said immigrant or immigrants reside, which report shall be entered in a book provided for that purpose.
- Sec. 2. It is further resolved that any immigrant or immigrants remaining in the Republic of Liberia for a period of five years from the time of his, or her, or their arrival into said Republic, the benefit received from the Government by said immigrant or immigrants shall be gratis; but should any of them declare their intention to permanently leave the Republic before the expiration of five years after arriving into said Republic, the value of the benefits received from the Government by said immigrant or immigrants shall be estimated and considered a debt due the Government by said immigrant or immigrants, which shall be recoverable before any tribunal having competent jurisdiction.
Any law to the contrary notwithstanding.
Approved January 25, 1906.
[Page 1091]I beg to request that a copy of this resolution be sent to the Detroit Informer, Detroit, Mich., and such other papers and organizations as are likely to be interested.
I have, etc.,