882.72/2: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Liberia (Bundy)
34. Your 47, July 17, 11 AM.
American Government notes with great surprise and concern, that concession to French Cable Company to construct and operate telegraph line connecting Liberian towns has been approved. It is the opinion of this Government that this public utility should be exclusively in Liberian hands and operated only by Liberian Government. It was intended to construct such a line from American Loan funds as soon as Loan Plan approved. The action of Liberian President in approving concession to French Cable Company without submittal to Financial Advisor and in spite of Financial Advisor’s protest reported in your despatch No. 55, March 10 last50 is in direct contradiction to Reform Program of 1912 [1917?] and is breach of faith in view of understanding with this Government upon [Page 123] this particular subject. The American Government regards this as a very serious matter as it cannot recognize the concession. You are instructed to bring the foregoing to the attention of the President of Liberia in the manner you consider the most efficacious and to ascertain what steps he intends to take in the matter.
- Not printed.↩