882.5048/282

Proclamation by President King of Liberia 25

A Proclamation by the President

Whereas, in consequence of representations having been made against the Government of the Republic of Liberia in relation to Slavery and forced Labour, the President of the Republic of Liberia proposed the setting up of a Commission of Enquiry to investigate the alleged existence in Liberia of these social conditions and in pursuance of said proposal and for the purpose of assuring an impartial enquiry and an authoritative report, did request the Secretariat of the League of Nations and the Government of the United States of America to nominate each a member to serve on the said Commission so proposed to be set up by the Government of Liberia; and

Whereas, the Legislature of the Republic of Liberia by a Joint Resolution of the Senate and House of Representatives approved December 12, 1929, did confirm said action of the President of the [Page 346] Republic and did authorize him to take all proper steps to effectuate the object of the proposed Commission of Enquiry; and

Whereas, in pursuance of the request made as aforesaid to the Secretariat of the League of Nations and to the Government of the United States of America certain nominations of members to serve on the Commission were made by the League of Nations and the Government of the United States of America, which nominations were accepted by the Government of the Republic of Liberia, that is to say:

Dr. Charles S. Johnson, on the part of the United States,

Dr. Cuthbert Christy, on the part of the League of Nations,

Now therefore, I, Charles Dunbar Burgess King, President of the Republic of Liberia do hereby proclaim and give notice to the people of Liberia and to all residents within the borders of the Republic, that the Commission of Enquiry composed as follows:

  • On the part of the Republic of Liberia
    Honourable Arthur Barclay,
  • On the part of the United States:
    Dr. Charles S. Johnson,
  • On the part of the League of Nations:
    Dr. Cuthbert Christy,

has this day been constituted and set up under the Chairmanship of the Representative of the League of Nations with full authority to enquire into all matters coming within the scope of the Terms of Reference furnished them in relations to the alleged existence in the Republic of Liberia of slavery as a factor in the Social and industrial economy of the Republic, and of Forced Labour, otherwise than is sanctioned in the International Slavery Convention of 1926.26 To which end the said Commission of Enquiry by virtue of the provisions of an Act of the Legislature of Liberia approved December 6, 1926, is empowered to summon witnesses, to administer oaths and take testimony, to compel the attendance of witnesses and punish for contempts.

And I do hereby call upon all citizens loyally to appear before said Commission when duly summoned and to comport themselves in such a manner as may facilitate the Enquiry; and towards that end I do advise that at no public meetings held during the life of the Commission shall be discussed any matters coming within the purview of the Commission of Enquiry as hereinbefore set forth.

[Page 347]

C. D. B. King

By the President:
Edwin Barclay
Secretary of State

  1. Printed copy transmitted to the Department by the Chargé in Liberia in despatch Diplomatic No. 52, May 8; received June 5.
  2. Foreign Relations, 1928, vol. i, p. 419.