File No. 882.51/783
The Liberian Consul General ( Lyon) to the Secretary of State
Excellency: I have the honor to submit the following statement, in compliance with the suggestion contained in your communication of the 5th instant,1 that owing to the absence of the Secretary and the Assistant Secretary of State, I should make my presentation of the matter contained in several cablegrams from the President of the Republic of Liberia and his Secretary of State, the nature of which, I have been instructed, had been disclosed already to the Department at Washington, by the American Minister Resident and Consul General at Monrovia.
These cable instructions reveal a very alarming and distressing condition of affairs, now existing in the Republic, due to the suppression of trade, occasioned by the sinking of several cargo steamers, by German submarines, with valuable consignments for Liberian ports, the customs levies from which would have replenished the depleted Treasury of the Republic. By reason of these unfortunate conditions the Republic is therefore threatened with complete financial disaster unless the United States Government heed the urgent appeal of the Liberian Government for immediate practical monetary assistance.
I am, therefore, instructed to approach the Government of the United States through your excellency and to ascertain if it will lend the Republic of Liberia a sum not less than $5,000,000 with which to refund the 1912 loan, to develop the interior resources of the country under American supervision, and to give practical aid and assistance to her allies now in the greatest struggle of the epoch.
Liberia offers for the satisfaction of this loan, among other things, material assistance to her allies in the present war; viz., [Page 515] (1) labor, (2) base for the operation of Allied fleets along the West African coast, (3) food, (4) communication facilities, (5) internal revenue, and (6) the customs levies.
Labor.—Liberia can furnish, estimating conservatively, 200,000 able-bodied men. It is well known throughout Europe that maritime communication between her and the west coast of Africa would be impossible were it not for the services of these natives as seamen and stevedores, of which Liberia furnishes the greater number. From the coastal tribes, viz., the Krus, Bassas, Grebos, and Veys, Liberia can furnish a minimum of ten regiments of experienced and qualified stevedores. A large portion of the contract labor employed in the various colonial possessions is drawn from the Liberian hinterland. Since the war, this labor has been at a standstill and could be transferred to France for communicative service during the war.
Food supplies.— This area of the Republic is regarded as the garden spot of the west coast. It is an agricultural district and was formerly recognized as the grain coast. The soil, on account of its climate, is capable of four distinct crops per annum. It is also capable of producing all those vegetables grown in the Southern States of the United States of America as well as those edibles common to tropical climates. Among these products are coffee, rice, beans, corn, cocoa, kola nuts, coconuts, etc. Added to these are the following valuable native products, which comprise an important place in the export trade of the Republic: viz., hides, piassaba fiber, rubber, dyewoods, palm oils, palm nuts, timber, and minerals. Cotton, so much in demand for war purposes, can be cultivated in Liberia, along with the native cotton from which the aborigines manufactured their cloths-patterns, and quality of which never fail to attract the foreigners’ attention, and for which they pay fabulous prices in order to secure them.
Communicative facilities.—At present, located in Liberia are two cables and two wireless stations, owned prior to political disturbances in Europe, by French and German citizens and subjects. Since the declaration of war by the Republic of Liberia against the Imperial Government, Liberia has taken over the cable and wireless stations belonging to German citizens and subjects, and they are now being operated in the interest of the Entente nations with whom Liberia is allied. No further argument is necessary to emphasize the value to the Allied cause for communicative service, than the fact that these forces of influence are now in Liberia’s possession, and they are being used to further the cause of democracy and freedom.
Internal revenue.—Much at present depends upon the natural products of the interior. Liberia has never been able to invite sufficient capital into the country to develop its interior wealth. Those who attempted—the history of the country will show—came to exploit it by unsavory methods rather than to develop it. Liberia has never been able to do it herself because she lacked the capital to build railroads and other facilities essential to interior development. If she had the capital, she could build railroads and other facilities; and she could invite scientific farmers from the United States. Under the supervision of the United States Government, which could act as instructor in the movement of farm development, [Page 516] aided by the frontier police force, now officered by men from this Government, operating over the entire interior of the country, and having the power to compel every inhabitant to do his part, Liberia could increase the productions of foods and other stuffs common to the soil. It would not be long, therefore, before three-fourths of the arable land of the Republic would be under cultivation and producing at least three crops per annum. This would not only augment the revenues from the interior, but it would add to the food supply of the Allied nations.
Loan from negro contribution.—That portion of the Liberty bonds purchased by colored American citizens could float a loan for Liberia more than sufficient to meet her needs and to aid her in rendering assistance to her Allies. It was reported in the Baltimore American, after the conclusion of the second Liberty loan campaign, that the colored people of Maryland had purchased $1,000,000 worth of Liberty bonds, exclusive of what they had done in the first Liberty bond issue. This fact, considered from the results noted in other States, would make the loan available out of the immediate contribution of the negroes themselves; and when it becomes public knowledge that the United States Government will, or has already aided Liberia, that portion of the Liberty loan now accredited to the American negro will be doubled in this campaign now being conducted for the third Liberty bond issue. Liberia is not asking for charity; but for the same consideration, on purely business principles, that has been shown to other nations in the Allied group. This Government has already loaned to its allies—Liberia not included—$4,261,329,750 distributed as follows:
| Great Britain | $2,230,000,000 |
| France | 1,290,000,000 |
| Italy | 450,000,000 |
| Russia | 187,729,750 |
| Belgium | 84,000,000 |
| Cuba | 16,000,000 |
| Serbia | 4,200,000 |
American opportunity.—The present administration can aid the twelve million colored American citizens in this country in no better way than by aiding Liberia in her present difficult situation. Any practical aid rendered to Liberia now would inspire patriotism not only in the hearts of Liberians and the twelve millions of our racial group in the United States, but in the heart of every lover of liberty everywhere. The moment seems psychological. It was a President from Virginia who aided in the founding of the Liberian colony, and we cherish the fond hope that history might repeat itself giving us again a President from Virginia, who by the nobility of his character and the generosity of his nature will reach down and save the Republic to the race in Africa, and thus help to make a place that posterity can revert to with pride and hope as a refuge for future generations, in the struggle for liberty and democracy.
For further consideration of this all-important and urgent matter I still hope for a personal conference with his excellency, the Secretary of State, at such time as will be most convenient to him.
I have [etc.]
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