882.20/377
Memorandum by Mr. Ellis O. Briggs of the Division of Western European Affairs
Colonel George W. Lewis, Adviser to the Liberian Frontier Force under the terms of the Loan Agreement of 1926, called at the Department on June 16 to state that he had resigned, effective July 15, 1932.
He said that his work in Liberia had been very discouraging for the reason that he had been unable to exercise any real authority and that as a result little or no improvement in the Frontier Force had been brought about during his time in Liberia. A large part of his time was spent in preparing a manual of regulations, which the Liberian Government has not printed.
Mr. Boal asked him whether, in the event that some new arrangement for an American adviser should be made, sufficient authority would accrue to such adviser if he himself actually received the money direct and himself paid it out to officers and enlisted men. Colonel Lewis said that that would certainly be desirable but that he felt that unless the adviser actually commanded the Frontier Force, it would be very difficult to do an effective job. He cited many instances drawn from his own experience to develop this idea and urgently recommended [Page 741] that if and when a new arrangement should be made, the adviser be given absolute command and in addition receive and disburse all Frontier Force money.