The Secretary of State to
Minister Lyon.
Department of State,
Washington, June 18,
1908.
Sir: I inclose for your information and the
files of the legation copy of a correspondence relative to the request
made by the Liberian envoys in this country that the United States
invite the Government of Great Britain to cooperate with it with a view
to assuring the perpetuity of Liberia.
I am, etc.,
[Page 696]
[Inclosure 1.]
The Liberian
Commission to the Secretary of
State.
The
Arlington,
Washington, June 11,
1908.
Sir: Referring to our interview with you
to-day we have the honor to transmit herewith copies of documents
from the files of the state department, Monrovia, under dates March
8 and 13 and 13th July, 1897, being copies of the promemorias from
your Government and Great Britain and of the dispatch from your
minister to Liberia relating thereto.
We beg leave to repeat our request that your Government would take
the initiative toward inviting Great Britain to join with the United
States in an arrangement that will give some definite shape to the
deep interest she so generously expressed in the perpetuity of
Liberia and which received the sincere approval of your
Government.
We beg again to thank you for the very kind assurances expressed in
this relation.
With our high consideration, we have, etc.,
- G. W. Gibson.
- James J. Dossen.
- Chas. B. Dunbar.
[Subinclosure 1.]
Minister Heard
to the Secretary of State of
Liberia.
Legation of United States,
Monrovia, Liberia, July 13, 1897.
Mr. Secretary. It is my privilege to
present these promemorias exchanged between the United States and
Great Britain at Washington.
The one from the United States, which I have the honor to represent
at this court, gives me profound pleasure to present to the home of
my ancestors.
The one coming from Great Britain increases my admiration of Her
Majesty’s Government as a favor of justice and equity.
By these promemorias you are assured that any unfriendly encroachment
upon your territory in future will be regarded by these powers as an
act against their earnest protest.
The United States desires Liberia to remain an independent and
distinct nation, and to resist all encroachment toward absorption,
guaranteeing her sympathy to this end, assuring her that the
friendship which has so long existed between the United States and
Liberia remains unshaken and grows more intimate daily.
In expressing these good feelings, I am authorized to convey
personally the warm affections of the new President of the United
States of America for Liberia and her future prosperity.
I ever remain, faithfully and sincerely,
William H. Heard,
Min. Res. Con. Gen.
[Subinclosure 2.]
The British
Ambassador to the Secretary of
State.
[Pro memoria.]
British Embassy,
Washington, March 8,
1897.
The undersigned is instructed by his Government with reference to
repeated encroachments on the territory of the Liberian Republic to
submit to the United States Government fche following
suggestions:
It might prove of service to the Liberian Republic and encourage it
to resist absorption by a foreign power were the Governments of
Great Britain and of the United States to make a joint declaration
of the special interest taken by them in the independence of that
Republic.
Julian Pauncefote,
H. B. M. Ambassador.
[Page 697]
[Subinclosure 3.]
The Secretary of
State to the British
Ambassador.
[Pro memoria.]
Department of State,
Washington, March 13,
1897.
Having reference to the confidential pro memoria submitted by his
excellency the British ambassador, on the 8th of March last, and
being desirous, in view of the circumstance of that Republic being
an offshoot of the community of the United States, and to show
toward it a kind spirit and all proper sympathy, the United States
for its part declares the special interest taken by it in the
independence of the Republic of Liberia and the concern it must feel
should any prospect of its absorption by a foreign power develop in
the future.
The Government of the United States is gratified to perceive from the
British promemoria of March 8 last that Her Majesty’s Government
entertains a similar special interest in the independence of the
Liberian Republic.
[Inclosure 2.]
The Secretary of
State to the Liberian
Commission.
Department of State,
Washington, June 13,
1908.
Gentlemen: I have the honor to acknowledge
the receipt of your communication of the 11th instant, in which you
inclose copies of the pro memoriæ exchanged between the British
ambassador at Washington and the Secretary of State of the United
States, and dated respectively March 8 and 13, 1897, concerning the
special interest taken by the Governments of Great Britain and the
United States in the independence of Liberia.
In connection with these documents you request that this Government
“take the initiative toward inviting Great Britain to join with the
United States in an arrangement that will give some definite shape
to the deep interest she so generously expressed in the perpetuity
of Liberia.”
In reply I have the honor to state that the ambassador of the United
States at London will be instructed to open with the Government of
Great Britain the subject of contributing to the welfare of Liberia,
making the communication of March 8, 1897, from the British
ambassador at Washington, the basis of negotiation.
I have, etc.,
