882.01 Foreign Control/376a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Acting Chairman of the American Delegation at the General Disarmament Conference (Gibson)
3. For Wilson. Please see Sir John Simon and Lord Cecil and read them the following personal message for me:
“Since receiving the messages you sent me through Mr. Wilson, I have given personal study to the situation which you presented. I have always felt that the deplorable condition in Liberia could best be corrected by international cooperation, and I am fully aware of the useful preparatory work which has been accomplished to date under the auspices of the Liberian Committee.
However, I am frankly disturbed at the possibility that even before the vital question of delegation of adequate authority has been disposed of, the controversial question of the nationality of the chief advisor should be interjected. I feel quite strongly that this point should not be brought up till later. If, however, the point must be raised, Reber will not insist on behalf of this government in favor of the appointment of a chief advisor of any given nationality.
But I think we must look one step further. If I am rightly informed, once this government has endorsed the plan and forwarded it to the Firestone interests it will still require the modification of the latter’s contract to become effective. The Firestones, whose assent and sacrifice is thus necessary to the consummation of the plan, feel very strongly from their viewpoint the necessity of having an American chief advisor. While officially we shall not urge this course, I confess to considerable sympathy with it as possibly the best solution in a region which although situated in another continent has many ties of tradition with America. But I certainly shall not be willing to urge a contrary decision upon the Firestones in a matter directly concerning their contractual rights legitimately acquired. I have followed with some care the record of Mr. Firestone’s enterprises in Liberia. They embody the only major center of civilisation in an undisciplined region which tends without outside pressure to revert to chaos. If in direct negotiations with the Firestone interests, the League can persuade them to modify their insistence on the question of nationality which they at present forecast, the problem ceases to be acute. If, on the other hand, the League should ask me to suggest an American for the post, I should give my personal attention to selecting a man of such integrity that there could be no suspicion of his backing any form of political or commercial imperialism. I put it to you in all fairness whether, if the situation were reversed, you would not find great difficulty in putting pressure on a British corporation that was the only real influence for civilisation in an ill-governed tropical community, to modify its contracts and advance yet further money in support of a plan until they were fully satisfied that their interests would be adequately protected. I am so exercised at the way matters are developing that I am sending you this personal message as I should be reluctant to see our collaboration weakened. [Page 759] I feel that by tackling the second step before the satisfactory disposal of the all-important first step, namely the delegation of adequate authority, an attempt is being made to drive a wedge between us which will profit none, least of all the Liberians.”
Please show this telegram to Reber.