File No. 763.72111W74/12
The British Ambassador ( Spring Rice ) to the Secretary of State
memorandum
His Britannic Majesty’s Ambassador is informed by Sir Edward Grey that the United States Ambassador in London has asked for an assurance from His Majesty’s Government that they will respect the neutrality of Liberia.
[Page 717]His Majesty’s Government are quite ready to give such an assurance and as a corollary thereto they have invited the Liberian Government to close the German radio-telegraphic station at Monrovia.
The Ambassador has the honour at the same time to say that His Majesty’s Government would be glad to learn what action the United States Government propose to take if any belligerent shipping takes refuge at Monrovia. It is the opinion of the British and French Governments that nothing less than the presence of a United States war vessel in Liberian waters would enable the Liberian Government to fulfil their obligations of neutrality.
The Ambassador has the honour to invite the Secretary of State to be good enough to give this suggestion his consideration and to enquire whether in his opinion it will be possible to give effect to it.