[Enclosure—Translation]
The French Ministry of
Foreign Affairs to the American
Embassy
According to information just received from Monrovia at the
Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the Liberian Government, whose
point of view, it is said, is supported by the Federal
Government, persists in refusing the necessary authorization to
effect the coupling of the German cable between Monrovia and
Pernambuco, with the French Company’s land station at
Monrovia.
As the Ministry for Foreign Affairs has had the honor to inform
the American Embassy by its note of the 10th of this month, the
Government of the Republic will, much to its regret, be obliged
to have this coupling made at the station at Konakry by means of
part of the French cable between Konakry and Monrovia, now in
operation for Liberia. The responsibility for an action so
prejudicial to the interests of Liberia will rest entirely with
the Liberian Government. Its refusal to grant an authorization
which its duties as an ally as well as its own interest should
have prompted it to give voluntarily, seems inexplicable to the
Government of the Republic.
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs will be happy if the Federal
Government could bring the Liberian Government to a better
understanding of its own interests and the general interests of
its allies.
[Page 520]
On the other hand the Ministry for Foreign Affairs has also
learned that because of the uncertainty of the Federal
Government’s intentions as regards the concession for the
railroad which is requested by the Société Coloniale pour le
Commerce et l’Industrie the Liberian Legislature which is about
to close its session continues to hesitate to pass the bill
which is now before it and which would seem to be advantageous
for the country.
Referring to its note of the 10th of this month the Ministry for
Foreign Affairs permits itself to request again that the
necessary instructions be urgently addressed on this subject to
the representative of the United States at Monrovia.
