882.51/991
The Ambassador in Great Britain (Davis) to the Secretary of
State
London, September 15(?), 1919.
[Received September
29.]
No. 1314
Sir: Adverting to my telegram No. 3043 of
September 18, 1919,28 relative to the present negotiations for
affording financial assistance to Liberia, and for the establishment
of an American customs receivership in that country, I have the
honor to transmit herewith, copies of a Note no. /24.A. of September
13, 1919, which has been received from the Foreign Office.
I have [etc.]
(For the Ambassador)
J. Butler
Wright
[Enclosure]
The British Acting Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs (Curzon) to the American Ambassador (Davis)
[London,] September 13, 1919.
No. /24.A.
Your Excellency: With reference to the
Aide Memoire of September 10th. which
was left at this Department this morning, relative to the
present negotiations for affording financial assistance to
Liberia and for the establishment of an American customs
receivership
[Page 485]
in that
country I have the honour to express to Your Excellency my
regret that the final settlement of this question is still
outstanding, a fact due to the necessity of transferring the
negotiations from Paris to London and Washington.
His Majesty’s Government had already, however, in the course of
the past month expressed to the British Peace Delegation at
Paris their views on the matter; these I now have the honour
briefly to recapitulate.
Subject to certain stipulations upon specific points, His
Majesty’s Government are prepared to accept the proposals for
the future administration of Liberia, embodied in the State
Department’s Memorandum of June 27th. 1919. A copy of the final
draft of that memorandum is transmitted herewith for convenience
of reference.
The specific points to which it was thought desirable to call
attention, and as to which His Majesty’s Government are fully
confident that the Government of the United States will readily
give their assurance that equality of treatment for all
nationalities will be maintained, may be briefly summarized as
follows:—
- 1.
- According to a system now in force in the Liberian
customs administration, permits to exceed in certain
respects the strict letter of the Customs regulations
have hitherto been granted by the authorities equally to
reputable traders of all nationalities when prompt
handling of merchandise would be thereby facilitated.
The necessity for such a system is occasioned, it is
understood, largely, if not entirely, by the absence in
Liberia of “bonded warehouses”, properly so-called. His
Majesty’s Government, then, rely upon the continued
observance under the new administration of strict
impartiality in the issue of such permits to British
traders.
- 2.
- His Majesty’s Government are confident that the
Customs dues on all imports of British goods, as well as
on exports of Liberian products of all descriptions
without exception, to any part of the British Empire,
will be levied at no higher rates than, and in an
exactly similar manner as, on imports of United States
merchandise into Liberia, and exports of produce from
Liberia to the United States of America.
- 3.
- It is assumed that the United States Government in the
special position which they are in future to occupy in
Liberia, will support any representations which His
Majesty’s Government might at any time be called upon to
make to the Liberian Government, should the latter take
any action to cancel, limit, or infringe the rights
possessed by British subjects by virtue of the existing
concessions in the country.
- 4.
- Two outstanding British claims against the Liberian
Government have been traced. One for Two hundred and
fifty pounds is preferred by certain Hindu traders of
Sierra Leone; the other for Forty four pounds eighteen
shillings and nine pence is made by Messrs Wayland and
Son Limited of Liverpool against the Liberian Post
Office. Both these debts have been admitted by the
Liberian Government and their acknowledgment by the
United States Government
[Page 486]
in their turn, should they not
have been already discharged, is the last stipulation
which His Majesty’s Government desire to make.
In the course of discussions upon this question between the
United States and British Peace Delegations at Paris, the latter
intimated that this Government would be glad, if possible, to
effect with the United States a simultaneous settlement of
certain questions relating to the Treaty rights of United States
citizens at Zanzibar, under the United States–Muscat Treaty of
1833.30
Negotiations to this end are now in progress at Washington, and I
have no reason to doubt but that they will be brought to an
early and satisfactory conclusion.31
I have [etc.]
(For the Secretary of State)
J. A. C. Tilley
[Subenclosure]
Memorandum Received from the Department
of State June 27, 191932
The Republic of Liberia having requested the aid of the United
States as its next friend in the necessary work of financial and
general rehabilitation, the government of the United States has
formulated the following plan with this end in view. The United
States has established a credit of $5,000,000 for Liberia, which
is to become available upon provision being made by Liberia for
certain reforms and for effectively safeguarding the equality of
economic opportunity to all states. These $5,000,000 are to be
used for the following purposes.
- 1.
- All arrears of interest on the refunding loan of 1912 are
to be paid and future payments are to be promptly met. Until
the revenues of Liberia are sufficient to meet this charge,
the necessary funds will be advanced by the United States
from the loan credit of $5,000,000.
- 2.
- Payment is to be made of all unbonded legal claims, bills
and arrears of the salaries against the Republic of Liberia
or of [or the] receivership on the
joint approval of the Secretary of the Treasury of Liberia
and the financial advisor.
- 3.
- An American receivership of the customs and internal
revenues is to be established and the revenues of Liberia
are to be administered by the General Receiver and financial
advisor designated by the President of the United States and
appointed by the Government of Liberia with the aid of
American assistants designated and appointed in like
manner.
- 4.
- American citizens designated and appointed in like manner
are to act as commissioners to establish and maintain a just
and equitable administration in the hinterland and to
preserve order therein.
- 5.
- An effective military police or constabulary is to be
maintained by Liberia under American military officers
designated and appointed in like manner. In view of the
foregoing loan to be made by the United States to Liberia
and the reform program outlined herein, Great Britain and
France agree to withdraw from the customs receivership
administration in Liberia, [and from] participation in the
financial and other aid to be accorded to Liberia by the
Government of the United States. Great Britain and France
further agree to withdraw all officials nominated by them
for appointment by Liberian Government as soon as the
arrangements for the proposed loan to Liberia by the United
States have been completed. These arrangements are to
include whatever agreements, if any, may be legally
necessary with the bankers and bondholders of the loan of
1912, and subject to the agreement of Liberia.
