[Enclosure—Extract]
Report on General Conditions in Liberia
During September
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
II. International
Economic
1. Germany Offers to Exploit
Liberia’s Forest Reserves
The Liberian Government has received an unofficial proposal from
the German Government in which the latter offers to cooperate in
the exploitation of Liberia’s valuable timber lands by sending
from the German Forestry Division an expert to assume full
supervision of this phase of governmental activity.
The German Government is willing to pay the salary of the
Forestry expert if the Liberian Government will provide him with
quarters and food and a force of 30 laborers.
During the month of July, Mr. Kurt Woermann, one of the
proprietors of A. Woermann and Company, visited Liberia. While
in Monrovia, he called on President Barclay and discussed the
possibility of his firm making large purchases of Liberian
products, particularly palm kernels. In the course of the
conversation the timeliness of exploiting Liberian timber was
mentioned. Mr. Woermann gave the impression that his company
would gladly explore the commercial possibilities of a foreign
market for Liberian woods.
President Barclay was, therefore, greatly surprised to receive a
letter from Mr. Woermann under date of August 26, in which the
writer stated he had taken up the matter with the German
Government which was prepared to send to Liberia one of its
experts from the German Forestry Division. Mr. Woermann further
stated that Germany would be pleased to cooperate with Liberia
on all economic matters in a spirit of amity, and suggested that
President Barclay confer with the German Consul General at
Monrovia relative to the forestry proposal.
[Page 849]
President Barclay, through his private secretary, acknowledged
receipt of the letter, promising to give the matter due
consideration.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
