File No. 882.51/809

The Secretary of State to the Secretary of the Treasury ( McAdoo)

Sir: Referring to my letter of June 1, 1918, concerning the appeal made by the Government of Liberia for a loan of $5,000,000 from the United States, I have the honor to enclose herewith a copy of a despatch1 from the American Chargé d’Affaires at Monrovia covering a draft of an arrangement which the Bank of. British West Africa is endeavoring to have the Government of Liberia, in its necessity, agree to.

I think it will be apparent to you, as it is to this Department, that unless financial assistance is rendered to Liberia by this Government, there is danger of Great Britain obtaining a predominating control of the country through this British bank. The urgent needs of Liberia, as pointed out by the Chargé d’Affaires, would seem to make it necessary for Liberia to obtain financial relief from some quarter at an early day, and it is my hope that it will be found permissible and possible for this relief to be afforded by the United States without further recourse to the British bank. In any event, final decision should not be delayed.

I have [etc.]

For the Secretary of State:
William Phillips
  1. Ante, p. 521.