File No. 882.00/527
The Secretary of State to the Secretary of the Navy
Washington, February 14, 1916.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 9th of February, informing the Department of the proposed withdrawal of the U. S. S. Chester from Liberian waters, and in reply [Page 455] to say that a telegram has been received from the American Minister at Monrovia recommending, with the concurrence of the commander of the vessel, that its station at Monrovia be continued at least two weeks after the arrival of the arms and ammunition which the Government of Liberia has recently purchased in this country.
Great good has been accomplished by the presence of the U. S. S. Chester in West African waters in preventing a more extended uprising of native tribes which so seriously threatened the Republic, and I take this occasion to express the Department’s deep appreciation of the valuable assistance rendered by your Department in causing the vessel to be put to that useful service.
I have [etc.]