882.6176 F 51/37: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Liberia (Hood)
12. Referring to your 20, June 11, 5 p.m. Firestone has directed Ross to change the loan clause to conform to “Liberian legal requirements,” so providing for eventual ratification by the Legislature following the negotiation of the loan agreement in the United States. It is hoped that this arrangement will remove any remaining objections of the Liberian Government.
The plan will be therefore (1) immediate signature of the agreements as modified; (2) the extension of an invitation by Firestone through the Department of State for a commission to come to America; (3) the dispatch of the commission and negotiation of the loan agreement; (4) the ratification of the loan agreement by the Legislature of Liberia.
With reference to (4), it is Firestone’s hope that Legislature can be summoned in special session while the commission is still in the United States and that the Legislature will ratify on basis of terms telegraphed to the Liberian Government.
Firestone insists on signature of agreements as modified prior to visit of commission and as preliminary to further negotiations.