File No. 882.51/418.
The Chargé d’Affaires of the French Republic to the Secretary of State.
Washington, July 19, 1912.
Mr. Secretary of State: Mr. Jusserand did not fail to forward to the Government of the Republic your excellency’s letter of May 15 last relative to the assignment of the post of Monrovia to the German Receiver of Liberian Customs who would, as a result, act for the American General Receiver in the latter’s absence.
The President of the Council, Minister for Foreign Affairs, informs me that after acquainting itself with that communication, the French Government readily concurs in the view of the Federal Government and, that, in compliance with the wish expressed by your excellency, it will do nothing to check the reforms to be carried out in the Republic of Liberia as mapped out by the United States.
Mr. Poincaré, however, can not refrain from noting that this assignment of the Monrovia post to the German Receiver does away [Page 684] with the equality the Federal Government was intent on maintaining in its entirety between France, Great Britain and Germany as far at least as their representation in the supervision of Liberian customs is concerned. The result is that the conditions under which the Govment of the Republic joined in the aforesaid scheme of reforms have been materially modified.
In consideration of the detriment suffered from this disturbance of the equipoise, in which it acquiesces, my Government hopes that the Federal Government will kindly admit the propriety of granting to France, when the time comes, by way of compensation for the advantage conceded to Germany, such facilities as may be required for a rectification favorable to us of the boundary line laid down by the Franco-Liberian agreement of 1911.1 Pourparlers have already been opened on the subject at the request of and on the bases indicated by the representative of Liberia at Paris.
The Government of the Republic further hopes that the Government of the United States will be in favor of having the post nearest to the Franco-Liberian boundary assigned to the French Receiver of Customs.
I should be thankful to your excellency if you would kindly enable me to transmit to Mr. Poincaré the assurance that, on these points, the Government of the United States will act as desired by us.