882.51/1866: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Liberia (Wharton)
10. 1. You are instructed to make no communication to the Liberian Government which could be understood as participation in strictly business negotiations unless specifically authorized by the Department.
2. Firestone is in the South and Colonel Crews is in Cuba. Neither is expected to return until April. At present communication with them is difficult, and the project cannot be properly considered until the texts of the Liberian Legislature’s ratifying acts have been received. The Department understands that in the interval operations will not be discontinued. The Department hopes that a better understanding and an equitable adjustment of remaining differences may be effected upon the return of Firestone and Crews and upon receipt of the texts of the acts of ratification.