882.5048/347: Telegram
The Department of State to the Liberian Consulate General at Baltimore42
Memorandum
The establishment of the International Commission of Inquiry into the Existence of Slavery and Forced Labor was agreed upon with extreme reluctance by the Liberian Government. The Liberian Government consistently denied, both before and during the investigation, that either slavery or forced labor existed in the Republic. [Page 370] The Commission, comprising one American member, one member nominated by the League of Nations, and one member appointed by Liberia, began its work in April of this year. It submitted its unanimous report to the Liberian Government on September 8, 1930. The American member delivered a signed copy to the Department of State on October 21, 1930.
This report is a shocking indictment of the Liberian Government’s policy of suppression of the natives,—permitted, if not actually indulged in, by nearly all the high officials of Liberia, including the Vice President of the Republic. The conclusions are drawn from over two hundred and sixty depositions. Many suspicious criminal practices and even torture are cited.
While direct criminal participation in the shipment of forced labor to the Spanish colony of Fernando Po, under conditions characterized by the report as “scarcely distinguishable from slave raiding and slave trading,” is established against Vice President Yancy, several district commissioners, county superintendents and many other officials, the President of Liberia and members of his cabinet were aware of these and other abuses, having received recorded complaints from the natives. High officials of the Liberian Government made use on their private farms of forced labor, often brutally and ruthlessly impressed under the guise of Government work. The report establishes the existence of domestic and tribal slavery, as well as “pawning” of natives.
Since the submission of the report on September 8, 1930, the Government of Liberia has made numerous promises of reform, but, in so far as the American Government is aware, the Government of Liberia has failed to submit definite plans for their execution. The Department of State is informed that a Cabinet committee was appointed to examine the report, but that its recommendations comprised a series of only partial reforms, without measures for carrying them out. Subsequently, two Executive Proclamations were issued,—one forbidding the further exportation of Laborers, and the other declaring domestic servitude and “pawning” illegal. Neither carried adequate sanctions. With respect to the latter, the American Government points out that slavery has always been “illegal” in Liberia, having been expressly forbidden by the Constitution of 1847.
On September 30, 1930, the President of Liberia informed the American Government that the Liberian Government “accepted the recommendations of the International Commission” and agreed to carry them out. In its reply of October 3, the American Government stated that when the details of the reform program were received, the American Government would study them with a view to rendering assistance. Although the American Chargé d’Affaires [Page 371] ad interim has made frequent inquiries, no such details have as yet been received from the Government of Liberia.
Ten weeks have now elapsed since the formal submission of the report to the Liberian Government. The American Government understands that not only has no action been taken against the officials whose guilt was established therein, but apparently all of these officials continue to hold public office.
It was brought to the attention of the American Government, during the course of the investigation, that the Government of Liberia was endeavoring through threats and intimidation to prevent the submission of testimony. The natives of Liberia came forward, nevertheless, and made their depositions before the members of the International Commission. It has now been reported that, instead of correcting its abuses the Government of Liberia has encouraged measures of retaliation against these helpless people.
Should this be true, the American Government is convinced that it will irreparably damage the good name of Liberia, and that it will banish from the world its belief in the sincerity of Liberia’s intentions to institute reforms. International public opinion will no longer tolerate those twin scourges of slavery and forced labor. Unless they are abolished, and unless there is instituted by the Liberian Government a comprehensive system of reforms, loyally and sincerely put into effect, it will result in the final alienation of the friendly feelings which the American Government and people have entertained for Liberia since its establishment nearly a century ago.
- Handed by the Secretary of State to the Liberian Consul General (Lyon) at noon on November 17, 1930.↩