882.01 Foreign Control/369: Telegram
The Minister in Switzerland (Wilson) to the Secretary of State
[Received 10:20 p.m.]
1. Cecil came to see me today to say that matters in the Liberian Commission had reached such a crucial point that he thought I ought to be apprised of the situation.
He explained he was in sympathy with the American position that adequate authority should be delegated to the Chief Adviser but he felt that the Committee could only permit this to be inserted in the framework of its own plan. In the first place it would not be prepared to give an unlimited mandate to a single individual to prepare a scheme of administrative reform and second it felt its own plan had been evolved during months of work and discussion and with assistance of as competent experts as could be obtained and presented at least the framework of the best solution possible.
He also told me of similar adverse sentiment on the part of the Committee to the appointment of an American as principal adviser. This was incompatible with League practice which would be to [Page 757] select for such an administrative position a national of a country having no important interests in the territory affected. To place an American at the head of the plan of reform would be to give him the power of arbiter between an American concern and the Liberian Government and would amount to practical administration of the country being centered in American hands. It has been made clear to him that the sentiment in the Committee was strongly adverse to this position of the United States and he added not only that it would be impossible to gain acceptance of our views but that he himself would be obliged to oppose the appointment of an American. He added that if the American Government would assume entire responsibility he himself and he thought the other members of the Commission would be happy to confide the mandate to America but that a League commission could not create a situation in which the fate of a member state was in effect confided to a private company.
From other sources I learn that there is a certain feeling of exasperation among members of the Commission at our attitude and I fear that we are facing a situation where we must make a definite choice. Having caused this matter to be taken up by the League we must now choose between working with a League commission in customary League procedure or having this entire matter dropped by the League and put back to our responsibility.
Since dictating the foregoing Simon has spoken to me regarding this matter. He desired me to convey a personal message to the Secretary of State to the effect that I could assure the Secretary of State that he had personally investigated the matter in his own Foreign Office and had assured himself that there was no British interest involved in this matter. He added that he thought that the Liberian question offered an admirable opportunity for the United States and Great Britain to stand shoulder to shoulder in an unselfish and humanitarian effort. He would welcome the appointment of the national of any country which had not direct interests involved and who had certain administrative experience and was not contemplating urging the appointment of any British subject.
Reber has seen this telegram.