File No. 882.51/439.
The German Chargé d’ Affaires to the Acting Secretary of State.
Newport R. I., August 23, 1912.
My Dear Mr. Wilson: Permit me to call your attention to the following information which I have just received from Berlin:
Mr. Lange, the German Consul at Monrovia, Liberia, has spontaneously declared his intention to retire from the German consular service as soon as he should enter upon his duties as customs receiver at Monrovia. My Government, favoring his decision, advised the Liberian Government accordingly. The Liberian Chargé d’Affaires at Berlin, however, has now addressed the formal demand to my Government that Mr. Lange retire from the German consular service before he takes up his duties as receiver, adding that otherwise Mr. Lange would be denied the exequatur as consul to the Liberian Government, because the English and French receivers would also claim consular authority, which double functions might cause conflicts.
It would certainly be harmful to the status of all great powers in Liberia if my Government should yield to such demands. Besides, Mr. Lange will only temporarily hold both offices, viz, until a suitable successor can be found and appointed German consul at Monrovia.
My Government would not object to other receivers holding consular positions. There is also no fear that this might lead to conflicts, since other international arrangements have successfully been made in which consuls hold similar positions, e. g., the International Financial Commission at Athens, the European Danube Commission, the Whangpoo Regulation at Shanghai, etc.
The German Government trusts that the Government of the United States shares this opinion and consequently will take the necessary steps to prevent the Liberian Government from adopting undue measures, as the denial of the exequatur to the German consul at Monrovia would be.
Thanking you [etc.]