882.20/451: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Kennedy) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 16—1:26 p.m.]
690. Your 356 of May 12, 4 p.m. and confidential instruction No. 612, February 24, 1939 [No. 663, April 24, 1939].17 According to information furnished by the Foreign Office, the Liberian representative in London has approached this Government with a view to an agreement for military assistance in the event of a war. I have the impression that the authorities here have not moved with any dispatch to consideration of the Liberian request and that it was referred for a report to the colonial and other service departments. This report has just been received at the Foreign Office and has not yet been submitted to the higher officials for action. An official of the Foreign Office, speaking confidentially, said that the answer to Kennedy [Liberia?] would probably be to the effect that Great Britain would be willing to assist in her defense should such a necessity arise between the two, that the opinion of this official and of the service departments is that Liberia is in fact in little danger of being attacked even if a war with Germany does arise. The official also indicated that the report of a “secret tripartite agreement between Great Britain, France and Liberia” is an overstatement of what is under consideration. The Embassy will be advised when a decision has been reached.
- Not printed.↩