Papers relating to the foreign relations of the United States, 1929, Volume III

882.5048/75: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Minister in Switzerland (Wilson)

Washington, September 11, 1929—3 p.m.

105. Referring to Department’s No. 83, August 12, 5 p.m. and Legation’s No. 61, August 17, 3 p.m. terms of reference as reported by American Chargé d’Affaires at Monrovia for International Commission to Investigate Alleged Forced Labor Conditions in Liberia are as follows:

“The Government of Liberia with a view to the removal of all doubts with respect to the existence within the territories of the Republic of the institution of slavery as defined in the Anti-Slavery Convention of 1926, propose to set up an International Commission of Enquiry with special powers to ascertain:

(a) Whether slavery as defined in the Anti-Slavery Convention in fact exists in the Republic.

(b) Whether this system is participated in or encouraged by the Government of the Republic.

(c) Whether and what leading citizens of the country participate therein.

(d) To what extent compulsory labor exists as a factor in the social and industrial economy of the state either for public or private purposes and if it does exist in what manner it has been recruited and employed either for public or private purposes.

(e) Whether shipment of contract laborers to Fernando Po under the terms of arrangement with Spain or shipment of such laborers to the Congo or any other foreign parts is associated with slavery and whether the method employed in recruiting such labor carries any compulsion.

(f) Whether the labor employed for private purposes on privately owned or leased plantations is recruited by voluntary enlistments or is forcibly impressed for this service by the Liberian Government or by its authority.

(g) Whether the Liberian Government has at any time given sanction or approval to the recruiting of labor with the aid and assistance of the Liberian Frontier Force and whether members of the Liberian Frontier Force or other persons holding official positions or in Government employ or private individuals have been implicated in such recruiting with or without Governmental approval.

2. The Commission shall be authorized to issue summons for witnesses, and to enforce the attendance of such witnesses under the provisions of the law of 1926, defining the powers of a Commission of Enquiry. Copy of this law is hereto attached.

3. It is within the competence of the Commission to make to the Government of Liberia such recommendations in respect of their findings as they may deem appropriate and necessary in relation to the subject matter of their enquiry.

4. The enquiry shall be concluded within four months and the Findings of the Commission filed with the Liberian Secretary of State within one month thereafter.”

The Chargé d’Affaires also reports that the Liberian Government requested the League on September 6 to nominate a member of this commission.

[Paraphrase.] Replying to your 61, August 17, 3 p.m., this Government is in no position either to meet the expenses of the Commission member nominated by the League of Nations or to urge that this be done by the Liberian Government. In the case of the Commission member nominated by this Government, moreover, this Government is of the view that it would not be wise for it to let the Liberian Government defray his expenses or the expenses of his staff. You may intimate to the League’s Secretary General that the United States Government is happy to have an opportunity of assisting the Liberian Government in its efforts to make use of the effective work done by the International Labor Office and by the framers of the anti-slavery convention of 1926.

Should you find any likelihood of the League not cooperating, by naming a Commission member, on account of the expense involved, at the proper time you may, in your discretion, intimate that this Government would in any event wish the investigation to be continued by a Commission to consist of a Liberian, an American and possibly a third member of some other nationality.

For your information, the Department has no national preference except that the League’s nominee should not be a national of a country likely to import labor from Liberia. Of course, it would be preferable for him to know English. Added to the usual qualifications of an investigator, he should be familiar, if possible, with the activities of the League of Nations and of the Temporary Slavery Commission.

This is for your guidance in talking to Sir Eric Drummond, and the Department does not wish you to be led by any inference into concluding that this Government is trying to tell the League of Nations what to do. The League, without advice from this Government, should make its own decisions.

Advance information as to any decision the League may have in view would be appreciated by the Department, to be in time for any further instructions to you. [End paraphrase.]

Stimson