File No. 882.00/532
Minister Curtis to the Secretary of State
Monrovia , January 12, 1916 .
Sir: I have the honor to report for the information of the Department that the Liberian Government, having been apprized of the probability of the U. S. S. Chester sailing from Liberian waters in the immediate future, has made known to the Legation the fact that it views with considerable disquietude such an ontoward event and that it desires the Legation to transmit its earnest request that the American Government permit the Chester to remain in Liberian waters until the Department has communicated its decision with reference to the Legation’s cable Dec. 1, 6 p.m., wherein it was set out that the Liberian Government, being unable to obtain ammunition for the German guns with which the Frontier Force is equipped, and having only one hundred thousand rounds of said ammunition on hand with which to undertake a three months’ campaign necessary to restore order on the Kru coast, sought through the Legation to ascertain whether the Government of the United States would lend it 500 Krag carbines and two hundred fifty thousand rounds of ammunition for the same.2
The Liberian Government has considered as an alternative, in case the Department cannot see its way clear to answer said inquiry affirmatively, the placing of an order with an American munition plant to manufacture ammunition, from samples to be furnished, of suitable make for use in said German guns and in sufficient quantities to meet the pressing needs thereof, on the Kru coast. The Liberian Government feels that, until the decision of the Department in the premises is made known to it, said order cannot properly be placed, the while, the situation on the Kru coast, in consequence of which the Chester laid anchor in Liberian waters, is far from settled as I learn from repeated conversations with the commanding officer of the Chester, who is acquiescent to the proposition of the Chester remaining until a reply is obtained from the Department to the Legation’s telegram of Dec. 1, 6 p.m. regarding arms and ammunition for the Liberian Government.
The Legation feels that the end sought by ordering the Chester to Liberian waters has not been fully attained as long as the Kru people are in armed rebellion against the established Government of Liberia in quarters where their activities may any day give rise to grave international questions and further feels that the Kru [Page 453] people being fully acquainted, as undoubtedly they are, with the Liberian Government’s shortage of ammunition, are now quiescent because of a wholesome respect for the presence of the Chester and that if the Chester leaves before the needed ammunition, so well known to the Krus, is met, dire consequences to the Liberian Republic involving serious international complications may result. A copy of the communication from the Liberian Government upon which this despatch and the Legation’s telegram of January 10, are predicated is herewith enclosed.
I have [etc.]