882.5048/107
The American Chargé in Liberia (Wharton) to the Liberian Secretary of State (Barclay)23
Monrovia, August 27, 1929.
My Dear Mr. Secretary: I am pleased to set forth, for your confirmation, our conversation of this morning with reference to shipments of Liberian natives as laborers to Fernando Po.
- 1.
- The writer informed the Liberian Secretary of State that it had come to the attention of the American Department of State that native laborers recently shipped to Fernando Po were being shipped under a special arrangement and not under the agreement concluded between Liberia and Spain in 1914; that in view of the wording of Paragraph E of the proposed terms of reference some expression from the Liberian Secretary of State as to the basis of shipments would be appreciated by the writer.
- 2.
- Further, the writer stated that it is said that Mr. S. A. Ross24 stated that he was recruiting and shipping native laborers under a Special Executive permit.
- 3.
- The writer asked if any laborers were shipped to Fernando Po under any other agreement or arrangement than that with the Spanish Government of 1914, and whether any of the laborers were shipped direct to private persons or companies.
- 4.
- The Secretary informed the writer that when he was acting as Chief Executive during the absence of President King in 1927, a question arising out of what he considered a violation of the terms of the 1914 agreement between Liberia and Spain, led him to give [Page 303] notice immediately that the agreement would terminate six months thereafter as provided, and he ordered all shipments of laborers to cease from date of notice. Upon report to Madrid, the Spanish Ambassador in London was instructed to approach President King who was then in London, and suggest to him that shipments were not to stop until six months after notice. President King agreed with their view, but the Secretary had stopped shipments altogether, resulting in embarrassment to Fernando Po as no crops had been gathered. Thereafter a private syndicate of farmers sent a commission to Monrovia to find out if they could get laborers in a private way. The Secretary stated that he refused to treat on this question with a private organization and informed the commission it was a matter for adjustment between the two governments. But upon the representations of the Spanish Consul in Monrovia, discussing the question as to inability to gather crops and other labor conditions in Fernando Po and need for Liberian laborers, the President promised, as a matter of comity that he would permit shipment of 3,000 laborers over a period of two years as from January 1928, under the terms of the 1914 agreement, but advising that after that they could not expect to receive any more laborers from Liberia.
- 5.
- As there was a specific law against recruiting of laborers in Montserrado and Bassa Counties, Mr. S. A. Ross, recruiting agent of Spanish Government, was given a special permit in order to recruit laborers in these counties to make up numbers needed under the special arrangement explained above.
- 6.
- The Secretary further stated that so far as his government knows there have been no shipments to private firms except perhaps under clandestine methods of agents sent from British possessions.
- 7.
- The Secretary also stated that his government had no knowledge of shipments to the Congo until the matter was brought to the attention of the Government by Mr. D. A. Ross, Manager of the Firestone Plantations Company, sometime in March 1928, while he was discussing the shortage of labor in Maryland County. The Secretary said that the President was annoyed as application had been made to the Government by a private French agent who was told no permit to private firms, and that only arrangement could be made between the French and Liberian governments for labor.
- 8.
- The Secretary in concluding said that he was anxious to complete the terms of reference as soon as possible.
I am [etc.]
Clifton R.
Wharton