882.5048/39: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Liberia ( Francis )
16. Your 80, July 4, 10 a.m. Please hand the following note to the Liberian Secretary of State:
“I have the honor to inform you that I have received telegraphic instructions from the American Department of State to express to you the high appreciation of the Government of the United States at the nature of the response which the Government of Liberia has made to the suggestions contained in the note presented to you on June 26 concerning alleged conditions of forced labor in Liberia. I am also instructed to add that the spirit of your note of July 2 gives striking evidence, if indeed evidence were needed, of the earnest desire of your Government effectively to meet the charges which have been made regarding labor conditions in Liberia, and which were the subject of the Legation’s notes of June 10 [8] and June 26. The Government of the United States is frank to state that in its opinion the appointment of a Commission of Investigation such as has been suggested and accepted in principle by the Government of Liberia will have an effect upon the opinion of the world that cannot but redound to the prestige of the Liberian nation.
In considering the scope of investigation by such a Commission, I am instructed to say that it is the feeling of the Government of the United States that in view of the sweeping nature of the charges which have been made and the wide credence which they have obtained, it would seem preferable that the terms of reference for the Commission be made as broad as possible, to include the question of the ‘export’ of labor from Liberia to Fernando Po, the Congo and elsewhere, as well as the questions of the alleged use of forced labor’ within the country of Liberia. It is incumbent upon me to observe that the important element to be considered is not so much the technical terms of reference but rather the actual personnel of the Commission to be appointed, and, to that end, I am instructed to suggest for the consideration of your Government that very general terms of reference conferring the broadest possible powers upon the Commission be adopted for the guidance of the Commission, and that when the personnel of the Commission has been definitely determined, the Liberian Government make public announcement that it has been disturbed by reports regarding labor conditions in Liberia and that accordingly it has appointed a Commission to investigate matters on the spot in order to prevent such misconceptions from gaining further headway.
In concluding, I would wish to express my own appreciation as well as that of the Government of the United States of the manner in which you and President King have responded to the friendly representations of the Government of the United States in this delicate and difficult matter.”
[Paraphrase.] As yet the Department has not taken any steps to appoint an American Commissioner and, furthermore, has succeeded up to the present in avoiding any discussion publicly of this matter either in the press or elsewhere. Since, however, there is always [Page 288] danger of discussions breaking out, the necessity to act promptly should be appreciated by the Liberian Government in order that such discussions be forestalled. When the Liberian reply has been received to the note you have been instructed to present, it is planned by the Department to request Dr. Emmett J. Scott to serve on the commission, upon the assumption, naturally, of his availability. [End paraphrase.]
Please report telegraphically when the note is presented by you.