882.01 Foreign Control/446: Telegram
The Chargé in Great Britain (Atherton) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 31—9 a.m.]
349. Department’s 302, December 29, 6 p.m. Following from Reber:
I saw Lord Cecil last night and explained to him the Department’s views regarding the new Liberian “law”, leaving with him copies of it and of the letter presented by Mr. Mitchell.
While expressing strong disapproval of the recent Liberian action he felt that it must be motivated by a feeling that Liberia could obtain money from sources other than the Finance Corporation. He said that he had never given any encouragement to this thought and he was at a loss to know where other funds might be obtained. He was also sure that no such encouragement had been given in Great Britain.
He felt that he was not in a position to be of much assistance at the present time but should the Committee be reconvened he would not lend support to a unilateral infringement of the loan contract.
Unless instructed to the contrary I propose to return to Geneva on Monday January 2nd and should the Department so desire I can make similar representations to the League Secretariat.