882.124A/37
The Secretary of State to the British Ambassador ( Howard )
Excellency: I have the honor to acknowledge your note of July 3, inviting the attention of the Government of the United States to the extremely unsatisfactory health conditions in Monrovia which have resulted in the recent outbreak of yellow fever.
This situation has been a source of grave concern to this Government particularly in view of the fact that the American Minister to Liberia is at present critically ill with yellow fever contracted in the recent epidemic and another American citizen, Mr. James L. Sibley, who had been acting as Educational Adviser to the Liberian Government, died of it on June 28. According to telegraphic advices from the American Legation at Monrovia a sanitary commission [Page 320] has been established under Mr. John Loomis, the American Financial Adviser to Liberia, and no new cases of yellow fever have been reported since June 26. Nevertheless the situation is far from reassuring and accordingly the American Legation at Monrovia was given telegraphic instructions on July 9 to inform the Liberian Government that this Government is greatly disturbed over the health situation in Liberia and that it would seem advisable that the Liberian Government appoint as soon as possible a competent sanitary engineer to study the question and to devise a comprehensive plan to avoid any recurrence of yellow fever. The Legation will further state that should the Liberian Government request this Government to secure the services of such a man he can be found immediately and could start for Monrovia at an early date. The Legation will add that this Government is convinced that the Liberian Government will realize the importance of such a health measure which it understands is likewise being recommended to the Liberian Government by the British and French Governments.
The Legation has been advised of the interest of your Government in this matter and has been instructed to consult with the British and French Legations in Monrovia informing them of the nature of his observations to the Liberian Government in order that the British, French and American Governments may be able to act in harmony in their discussions with the Liberian Government on this matter.
I am pleased to learn that your Government has already invited the cooperation of the French Government in this matter and I have sent telegraphic instructions to the American Embassy in Paris to second the suggestion to this effect which, I understand, is being made to the French Government by the British Embassy in Paris.
Accept [etc.]