Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1932, The British Commonwealth, Europe, Near East and Africa, Volume II

882.01 Foreign Control/283: Telegram

The Minister in Liberia (Mitchell) to the Secretary of State

Monrovia, June 14, 1932—5 p.m.
[Received June 15—7:27 a.m.]

61. The Liberian Government has been informed today by confirmatory notification from the British Chargé d’Affaires at Monrovia, though the League is communicating arrangements direct to the Government of Liberia, that Dr. Mackenzie acting as League Special Commissioner to assist in the pacification of the Kru country will arrive in Monrovia on H.M.S. Rochester about June 28th subject to obtaining satisfactory written assurances from the Liberian Government that,

(1) Liberian frontier force will be under his control.

(2) Arrests of natives will be subject to his consent and,

(3) There will be no reprisals.

He will be domiciled on board H.M.S. during his stay on Kru Coast. An escort of three police, an interpreter, and a cook are being furnished by the Governor of the Gold Coast and will meet Mackenzie in Freetown. The League expects Liberia to defray the expenses of this mission when money is available.

To this, I am reliably informed, the Liberian Government will make a vigorous protest to the League and considers it an aggressive act by Great Britain upon her sovereignty and autonomy.

Mitchell