882.032/23
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Liberia (Johnson)
Sir: Full and mature consideration has been given to the Legation’s despatch of March 25, 1918, No. 199, and to the enclosure from the Financial Adviser of Liberia, dated March 15, 1918.40 You may say to the Liberian Government that the Department is distinctly disappointed that the Legislature has shown itself unwilling to take advice or suggestions from either the Financial Adviser or the Executive Branch of the Liberian Government.
In 1908 the Liberian Government sent a Commission to the United States to enlist the interest of this Government and its financial assistance at that time of great need.41 The Commission made certain requests, inter alia, for advice as to needed reforms. In 1909 the United States Government sent a Commission to Liberia to make certain investigations and this request of Liberia for suggested reforms was again repeated to this Government as one of the things sought by the Liberian Government.42
Acting upon this reiterated request of the Liberian Government, financial and other assistance was granted to Liberia, and suggestions [Page 112] have from time to time been made as to definite reforms needed in Liberia. Before taking more advanced steps in the interests of Liberia, this Government has been taking note of the manner in which the Government of Liberia carried out its part of the Program and received and acted upon the suggestions of reforms which had been invited by Liberia.
The Department is very pleased to note that with possibly one or two exceptions the Executive branch of the Liberian Government has apparently endeavored to show its appreciation and its desire to receive further assistance and develop closer relations. As pointed out in the Reform Program, transmitted with instruction No. 23, April 4, 1917,43 the Legislature of Liberia, on the other hand, has, unfortunately, never shown this same spirit of friendly cooperation. The Department regrets to note that since the receipt by the Liberian Government of the Reform Program the Legislature has continued its former attitude.
As the Legislature is a coordinate branch of the Liberian Government, the Department cannot but take cognizance of its attitude and policy which is apparently calculated to nullify the provisions of the Reform Program as they apply to the Legislative Branch of that Government and to set at naught the functions of the Financial Adviser in that Program.
You are authorized to bring the foregoing observations to the notice of the Liberian Government with an expression of the Department’s hope that there will be no need to again call attention to any unfriendly attitude or lack of cooperation on the part of any branch of that Government.
I am [etc.]
- Neither printed.↩
- See Foreign Relations, 1910, pp. 694 ff.↩
- See ibid., pp. 699 ff.↩
- Foreign Relations, 1917, p. 877.↩