882.74/62
The Minister in Liberia (Francis) to
the Secretary of State
Monrovia, August 22,
1928.
[Received September 19.]
No. 113
Diplomatic
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge
Department’s cable No. 18, July 30, 2 [3] P.M.;
Department’s cable No. 20, August 7, 2 P.M.; Department’s cable No. 25,
August 17, 2 P.M., and to confirm this
[Page 273]
Mission’s cable No. 23, 4 P.M., August 3; cable
No. 27, August 11, 2 P.M.,54 and cable No. 29, 9 A.M., August 15, 1928,
concerning the issuance of public utility license to Firestone
Plantations Company and the Radio Corporation of America for
transmission of commercial business between the United States and the
Republic of Liberia.
The Department’s attention is respectfully referred to this Mission’s
despatch (Diplomatic) No. 103, August 2, 1928.55
In an interview with the President on the 14th instant in which the
writer called His Excellency’s attention to the apparent inconsistency
between his memorandum to the writer and the statement made by His
Excellency to Mr. Hines, the President informed the writer that the
Liberian Government’s position was set forth in the wireless message
which he sent to Mr. Harvey S. Firestone, Jr., under date of July 30,
1928, to which Mr. Firestone replied on August 3. The writer asked the
President if he might be permitted to so advise his Department of State,
to which the President replied in the affirmative stating that he would
furnish copies of his message to Mr. Firestone and Mr. Firestone’s
reply. Upon that authority this Mission’s cable No. 29, 9 A.M., August
15, was based.
In accordance with his promise the President, under date of August 16,
wrote this office enclosing copy of the two messages referred to above,
and in addition thereto a copy of a letter from Postmaster General Ross,
June 15, 1928, to Mr. Hines, stating the Government’s original position
in response to the Plantation Company’s request for public utility
license.56
Inasmuch as the terms of the Postmaster General’s letter of June 15, were
modified and amended by a letter from Mr. Hines in answer thereto on
June 21,57 and the modifications and
amendments were discussed and in substance accepted by the Liberian
Government and such amendments and modifications form the actual basis
upon which the proposed agreement was to be executed, I acknowledged
receipt of the President’s letter of August 16 and asked him for a copy
of Mr. Hines’ letter of June 21.58
On receipt of Department’s cable No. 25, August 17, 2 P.M., announcing
that the Radio Commission of America had granted the double line of
direct public service radio communication with Liberia, desired by the
Liberian Government, I immediately advised President
[Page 274]
King, who on August 20,59 in reply to my note of the 18th,60 said “I cannot too strongly express to your
Excellency my high appreciation of the amicable understanding reached
with the Federal Radio Commission which now insures Transatlantic
communication between Liberia and the United States, in the way and
manner desired by the Liberian Government”.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Under date of August 20 the Radio Corporation of America cabled President
King61 the result of the hearing before the Federal Radio
Commission stating that through the good offices of the American
Department of State the Corporation had received license; thanking the
President and stating that the Corporation was ready to engage in
commercial business with Liberia as soon as Liberia was able to do so.
The President replied to this cable on the same day and a copy of his
reply is enclosed.
A copy of Mr. Hines’ letter of June 21, 1928, is also enclosed.
I have [etc.]
[Enclosure 1]
President King
of Liberia to the American Minister (Francis)
Monrovia, August 16,
1928.
691/241
Dear Minister Francis: In keeping with my
promise at our last interview, I have the honour to transmit [to]
you herewith copies of correspondence and cablegrams exchanged
between the Liberian Government and the Firestone Plantations
Company, relative to granting the latter a public Utility License
for operating a Radio Station between the United States and
Liberia.
With due regards [etc.]
[Subenclosure 1]
The Liberian Postmaster General (Ross) to Mr. W. D.
Hines
Monrovia, June 15,
1928.
No. 651/37/28D
Sir: With reference to your letter of the
11th instant, to His Excellency, the President, on the subject of
the Radio Station of the Firestone Plantations Company, as a public
utility,62 I have the honour to forward you the
following as a basis of the decision of the Cabinet, on the matter,
subject however, to Legislative approval.
- (a)
- That the Firestone radio station be listed as a subsidiary
Government Station.
- (b)
- That all messages for transmission via Firestone Radio shall
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be handed in at
the Government radio Station Monrovia where it shall be endorsed
for transmission via Firestone station.
- (c)
- All public messages, including Government messages which may
be presented at the Firestone Station at Akron, Ohio, U. S. A.
shall be forwarded by that station directly to the Liberian
Government Station at Monrovia, unless, at the time of
forwarding such messages, the Government Station is not in
condition for receiving them.
- (d)
- The total tolls collected from messages transmitted through
Firestone Station shall be paid to the Government.
- (e)
- This Agreement may be terminated by either party thereto after
six month[s’] notice previously given to the other party.
If you are in accord with the points above mentioned, I shall be
pleased to have you nominate a day for an interview with me on the
matter, in order that appropriate agreement on the subject matter
might be entered into by the respective parties.
I have [etc.]
[Subenclosure
2—Telegram]
Mr. H. S. Firestone,
Jr., to President King of Liberia
Your message stating the position of the Liberian Government on Radio
communication between the United States and Liberia63 has been received and we greatly
appreciate the Liberian Government’s consideration in agreeing to
grant us a Public Service License. In accordance with your desire in
the matter we will be pleased to bring your Government’s position
regarding radio as expressed in your message to the attention of the
Federal Radio Commission. We feel sure that you appreciate our
position as regards the entire situation and our desire to cooperate
with your Government in attaining the objects sought. As evidence of
this we would be agreeable if the Federal Radio Commission decided
to grant an additional service to Liberia to share the wavelength
already granted to us with the RCA although we are already required
to share this wavelength with a South American System by allowing
RCA one third time on our wavelength.
However should the Federal Radio Commission decide otherwise we
respectfully offer the service of our Station at Akron as the
contact point for communication between the Liberian Government
Station and the United States and in such case you may be assured we
could and would render the best possible service to the Liberian
Government in its Radio Communication.
[Page 276]
[Enclosure 2]
Mr. W. D. Hines
to the Liberian Postmaster General (Ross)
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge
receipt of your letter of June 15, 192864 and desire to express
our appreciation of the Government’s consideration of our request
for a radio public utility license. In reply thereto I beg to submit
for your consideration some modifications to your proposed basis of
understanding that would assist us to meet the difficulties with
which we are confronted.
- (a)
- That the public service rendered by the Firestone radio
stations be listed as supplementary to the Government’s public
service.
- (b)
- That copies of all public service messages received at the
Firestone radio station on the Du for transmission to America
shall be delivered to the Government radio station immediately
after their receipt at the Du station.
- (c)
- That all public service messages accepted at the Firestone
radio station at Akron, Ohio, U. S. A. for transmission to
Liberia shall be sent direct to the Government station at
Monrovia, unless at the time such messages are accepted at
Akron, the Government station is unable to receive them, in
which case such messages shall be routed through the Firestone
radio station on the Du.
- (d)
- The net revenue accruing from the transmission of public
service messages shall be divided upon a basis of 75 percent to
the Government and 25 percent to the Firestone radio stations.
Provided, however, that if the Government is unable to transmit
public service messages and the Firestone radio stations are
therefore required to handle the full public service traffic
between Liberia and America for a period of more than one month,
then the same terms as extended to any other radio public
service corporation by the Government shall become effective
between the two parties hereto.
- (e)
- That this agreement may be terminated by either party whenever
it is no longer necessary for the Firestone radio stations to
remain public utilities in order to maintain proper radio
communications with Liberia.
- (f)
- That this agreement is considered supplementary to and in no
way affects the previous arrangement entered into between the
Government and the Firestone Company providing for the free
transmission by radio of messages relating to its own private
business and operations.
I beg permission to explain the reasons for the suggested
qualifications. In respect to the tolls we consider it necessary to
receive some compensation for public service rendered in order to
qualify as a public utility. We understand that the proposed radio
arrangement with us in no way conflicts with your present public
service traffic agreement and that the Government may retain the
full amount (75 percent) of revenue allocated in Paragraph (d) of these proposals
[Page 277]
as Paragraph 2 of the Governments present
public service traffic agreement specifically implies that each
party thereto has the right and privilege of making other radio
connections and agreements as it refers to messages “within its
control” only and messages not “routed otherwise by the sender”.
In view of the extremely small portion of the tolls which we retain
and the cooperative spirit in which our request has been met, we
assume that the Government has no intention of taking advantage of
the position this agreement places us in in case we are required at
any future time to carry all commercial traffic. Without the
modification relating thereto we would bind ourselves to carry all
commercial traffic whenever called upon to do so without adequate
compensation for same.
In respect to the substitution of the word supplementary for
subsidiary, I understand it is not the Government’s intention to
claim any proprietory interest in the property of the Firestone
radio stations but that the Government only seeks to have our public
service conform to its policy of providing additional communication
facilities for the benefit of the public.
As to the termination clause I beg permission to ask consideration of
this modification on the basis that in reality the provision for six
months’ notice only gives us public service rights for that specific
period of time. In view of the large investments required to
establish and maintain radio stations and their importance to our
primary object of rubber development here, reasonable assurance of
continued operation without interruption are necessary from an
economic as well as efficiency standpoint.
Again expressing our thanks for the Government’s consideration and
with expressions of respect and esteem,
I have [etc.]
[Enclosure 3]
The American Minister (Francis) to President King
of Liberia
Monrovia, August 18,
1928.
My Dear Mr. President: I have the honor to
inform Your Excellency that I am this day advised that at the
hearing of the Federal Radio Commission held August 17, both Mr.
Firestone and the Department presented and supported the views
indicated in your telegram to Mr. Firestone of July 30;65 and that the Commission has granted the
radio communication with Liberia, thus making possible the
establishment of the double line of direct public service radio
communications between Liberia and the United States desired by the
Liberian Government.
I am [etc.]
[Page 278]
[Enclosure 4]
President King
of Liberia to the American Minister (Francis)
Monrovia, August 20,
1928.
707/241
My Dear Minister Francis: I have the honour
to thank you very much for the kind information conveyed by your
letter of the 18th instant,66 informing me that at a
hearing of the Federal Radio Commission held on August 17th 1928,
the Commission granted radio communication with Liberia.
I cannot too strongly express to Your Excellency my high appreciation
of the amicable understanding reached with the Federal Radio
Commission which now insures transatlantic communication between
Liberia and the United States, in the way and manner desired by the
Liberian Government.
With due regards [etc.]
[Enclosure 5—Telegram 1]
President King
of Liberia to the Radio Corporation of
America
Monrovia, August 20,
1928.
Received your radio August 20th. Thanks for message. Appreciate
amicable understanding with the Federal Radio Commission which
insures Transatlantic radio communication between Liberia and the
United States.
