882.01 Foreign Control/950

Memorandum by the Chief of the Division of Western European Affairs (Moffat)

Mr. Moffat asked Mr. Broadmead13 to call and referred to the Department’s letter of April 3, 1935, inviting the British Government [Page 945] to join the American Government in recognizing the Barclay regime following the repeal by the Liberian Legislature of repudiationist acts and measures.

The Department is now in receipt of a telegram from the Legation in Monrovia14 indicating that Mr. Barclay has been reelected President by an overwhelming majority and that he is planning to call the Liberian Congress into session on May 20.

It is therefore important for the two Governments to determine their future course of action without further delay.

This Government continues to favor recognition of the Barclay régime under the circumstances outlined. Reports have reached us that conditions have of late considerably improved under the Barclay régime. While to be sure, there has not yet been a final settlement of the Kru question, this Government continues to feel that this problem is only one part of a larger problem; that Barclay’s reform plan provides for the reorganization of native administration under a foreign specialist who can take up the Kru question first; that there is no outstanding urgency in the matter as all is quiet in that area. Finally, this Government is convinced that a continuation of non-recognition can no longer serve a useful purpose; on the contrary, due to the psychology of the Liberians, it believes that further nonrecognition would raise an insurmountable barrier which would prevent us from assisting in the formation and operation of President Barclay’s Plan.

Mr. Moffat expressed the hope that the Embassy would send a brief telegraphic report of this Government’s reasons for favoring prompt recognition at the same time asking for a telegraphic reply. The American Government still hoped that the British Government would proceed with it in the policy outlined.

Pierrepont Moffat
  1. Philip M. Broadmead, First Secretary of the British Embassy.
  2. Not printed.