Office of the Historian

File No. 763.72/5957

The Minister in Liberia (Curtis) to the Secretary of State

[Telegram]
Monrovia, July 23, 1917, 9 p.m.
[Received July 24, 2.20 p.m.]

Department’s July 18, 6 p.m. British and French representatives authorized and ready to sign draft convention from the Liberian Government substantially as follows: [Page 476]

  • Article 1. Liberian Government undertakes to declare war against Germany, deliver all Germans of military age to Governments of United States, Great Britain, and France, or either of them, for internment in France, and liquidate business of all German firms in Liberia in accordance with memorandum of British Ambassador of June 8.
  • Article 2. Said three Governments jointly and severally pledge their firm assurances to defend and protect Liberia to the best of their power against aggressions of any hostile nation.
  • Article 3. All necessary protection from the sea will be given during the war by the British naval vessels at Sierra Leone.
  • Article 4. Mutually agreed by all parties signatory that Articles 2 and 3 are guarantees against molestation of Liberia during, as well as after, the war and that no financial compensation shall be required of Liberia from either of the said powers for such guarantees.
  • Article 5. The removal by Great Britain of all the restrictions on Liberian trade, hitherto imposed to destroy German trade in Liberia, shall immediately follow said deportation and said liquidation of business.

Articles of the convention to be submitted to the respective competent authorities of each of the contracting parties for approval and ratification. Consummation only awaits my signature. Shall I sign? Immediate answer respectfully requested.

Curtis