882.124A/1: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Liberia (Wharton)
37. Department’s 34, September 17, 6 p.m. United States Public Health
Service now advises that it will be able to assign one of its most
experienced officers to Monrovia and that arrangements can be made for
him to arrive in Monrovia on or about December 1. However, before
issuing instructions to the officer in question the Public Health
Service feels very strongly—and in this the Department wholly
concurs—that it is essential to the successful prosecution of his task
that terms of his employment and the scope of his authority be clearly
defined in advance. Accordingly, the following memorandum agreement is
suggested as appropriate in the circumstances:
In discussing this proposed memorandum agreement with the Liberian Government, you may bring the following observations to its attention in such form as may seem advisable:
- a)
- The Liberian Government will readily appreciate the necessity of giving the Chief Medical Adviser complete authority and full cooperation in all matters relating to the suppression of yellow fever and the eradication of the sanitary conditions which have led to its appearance in Liberia if his undertaking is to be successful. Paragraphs 1 and 3 are based on this premise.
- b)
- A second and corollary premise underlies paragraph 4, namely, that if the appointment of a Chief Medical Adviser is to accomplish the purpose for which it is intended assurance must be had that the sanitary measures and organization inaugurated by him will be put on a permanent basis and that full weight will be given by the Liberian Government to his recommendations for the future prosecution of this work. In this connection, it will be readily recognized that, if yellow fever is to be eradicated in Liberia, the Liberian Government must be prepared to make a substantial financial outlay for sanitary purposes every year.
- c)
- The arrangements as to salary, allowances, et cetera, have in general been framed so as to assimilate the status of the Chief Medical Adviser to that enjoyed by the Financial Adviser as provided under the 1926 Loan Agreement.46
- d)
- As was stated in the Department’s 15, July 9, 5 p.m., the Advisory Committee on Liberian Education is prepared if so desired to furnish funds for combating yellow fever in Liberia up to the sum of $7500 for the first year, thus leaving $7500 of the $15,000 provided for in Article 3 of the memorandum agreement to be furnished by the Liberian Government.
- e)
- The officer whom the United States Public Health Service has recommended for the position is Dr. Howard F. Smith, now on duty at Palermo, Italy. Dr. Smith is 46 years of age, has been 16 years in the United States Public Health Service and is highly considered both professionally and personally. Upon receipt of information that the Liberian Government is agreeable to the proposed memorandum agreement he will be formally nominated to President King by President Hoover following which appropriate instructions will be sent to him to report to Monrovia.
Please cable reply with any comments which may seem appropriate.