File No. 763.72/3658
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Great Britain ( Page)1
4726. Department has received telegram from American Legation, Monrovia, to the effect that because of the “imminent war between the United States of America and Germany, and because of rumors of a German outbreak here, in such event due to the belief that Liberia will join fortune with the United States,” the Liberian Government requests immediate aid from the United States or from one of the Allied powers to enable it successfully to handle such an outbreak.
This Government has no ship available for immediate use in Liberian waters. You may take up the matter informally, inquiring whether the British Government would be disposed to send a ship temporarily to Liberia. Department is making a similar inquiry of French Government.
On ascertaining if the British and French Governments, or either, were in a position to give temporary protection to Liberian Government, this Government would advise Liberia to sever relations with the German Government. It is hoped that with the termination of German official representation in Liberia the Allied Governments [Page 460] may find it possible to permit the resumption of the British and French trade with the Liberian people under whatever guaranties may be desirable.
- The same, on the same date, mutatis mutandis, to the Ambassador in France (No. 2179).↩