882.51/1074: Telegram

The Minister in Liberia (Johnson) to the Acting Secretary of State

28. Department’s 13, February 19, 3 p.m. Legation as instructed advised Liberian Government that sanction cannot be given to a budget which would include salary for more than one Cabinet minister for War, Interior and Education Departments. In a lengthy reply Secretary of State intelligently argues that an Education Department administered by a Cabinet minister is now absolutely necessary to deal with Republic’s educational problem. President informally intimated in conversation that he would not yield position already taken in this matter. Nothing is said in reply of Secretary of State as to keeping War and Interior Departments combined but Legation construes silence on this point to mean that for the present no further objections will be offered to these two Departments remaining together under one Cabinet minister.

Johnson