882.5048/365
Memorandum by the Chief of the Division of Western European Affairs (Marriner)
The British Ambassador called to say that his Government was interested to know if they could cooperate in any way in the very bad condition in Liberia, as his Government had been informed that the Liberian Frontier Force was at present wreaking vengeance on natives who had testified before the Slavery Commission.
I told him that the Secretary of State had an interview with the Liberian Consul General on the 17th and read him the text of the memorandum. I told him that this text had been forwarded to Liberia only this morning and that we would welcome any added pressure for the enactment of the program of reform suggested by the Slavery Commission and the setting up of suitable machinery to carry them out. I told him that we had arranged to make a publication of the report simultaneous with that of the League of Nations on January 10th.
He said that the whole condition was shocking and that his Government was anxious to cooperate. He presumed, of course, that the matter would come before the Council of the League at its next meeting and wondered what could be done and what part we could take in any action which the Council might propose. I told him that, of course, we could take no part in an action by the Council as such, but that if informed of its action we would be ready to act along parallel fines.