882.6176 F51/250a
The Assistant Secretary of State (Castle) to the Minister in Liberia (Francis)
My Dear Mr. Francis: In recent conversations both with the Firestones1 and with Mr. Bussell2 of the Liberian Receivership, now home on leave, it has been made quite obvious that a good deal of friction of one sort or another has developed in the relations between the Liberian Government, the Receivership and the Firestone organization in Liberia. Of course a certain amount of this is inevitable as it cannot be expected that the interests of the Liberian Government, the Receivership and the Firestone Company will, in all cases, be identical. However, the present atmosphere of mutual distrust and suspicion accentuated as it appears to be by a number of personal dislikes impresses me as most unfortunate, as the success of the whole scheme of Liberian development through the loan and the Firestone project is dependent primarily upon a spirit of cordial cooperation between the Government, the Receivership and Firestone.
The Department naturally has no intention of apportioning credit or blame in the matter or of involving itself or the Legation in any way. However, the successful development of Liberia is an object of distinct interest to us both on account of the Department’s traditional friendly interest in the welfare of Liberia and on account of its desire to assist American business and to obtain new sources of rubber supply. In consequence the misunderstandings which appear to have arisen can only be deplored, especially as I am convinced that each of the parties concerned is acting with perfectly honest motives.
In my conversations with Mr. Firestone and also in the conversations which Firestone and Bussell had with Mr. Marriner3 and Mr. Carter4 we have emphasized our position as outlined above and we [Page 241] have expressed our hope that they would endeavor to work harmoniously together. You are in an even better position in Monrovia to carry on the good work and through your informal and personal contacts to help create a spirit of mutual confidence that will obviate most, if not all, of the disagreements and misapprehensions.
I have written De la Rue a personal letter on the subject5 and have thought it well to write you in this way so that you could keep posted on what has been happening here in Washington.
With my best wishes [etc.]
- Harvey S. Firestone, president, and Harvey S. Firestone, Jr., vice president of the Firestone Plantations Co.↩
- Conrad T. Bussell, supervisor of Liberian Customs.↩
- J. Theodore Marriner, Chief of the Division of Western European Affairs.↩
- Henry Carter, of the Division of Western European Affairs.↩
- Not found in Department files.↩