882.73/12: Telegram
The Chargé in France (Bliss) to the Acting Secretary of State
[Received January 15, 3.45 a.m.]
6749. Yesterday afternoon I read your 6937 January 11th, 4 p.m. to official of Foreign Office in charge of Liberian matters who informed me that on receiving through French Chargé d’Affaires at Monrovia a protest from the Liberian Government against his statements that a French vessel might be sent to effect the landing at [Page 515] Monrovia of the old German cable to Pernambuco, the French Government had renounced any idea of sending such a vessel to Liberian waters for the purpose. It was explained that when the Liberian Government objected to the old German cable being connected with the German land station at Monrovia because this station is under sequestration, the French then proposed its being attached to the existing station of the French cable, but that this proposal was also refused, though without reason being given.
A note to this Embassy, I was informed, is awaiting the signature of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, in which the French Government expresses its desire to make use of this cable by connecting it with the French station at Monrovia, and that if this is not satisfactory to the Liberian Government, the French Government proposes to connect this cable to the French one at Konakry in French West Africa. The note then points out, I understand, that in order to accomplish this it would be necessary, because of the shortness of the old cable, to disconnect at Monrovia the cable going to Konakry and join it with the one coming from Pernambuco. In this way all cable communication with Monrovia would be severed. As soon as received, I will cable text of the note which I understand also takes up the question of the loan to Liberia and the question of railroad concessions.