762.82/16: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Liberia (Walton)
18. The American Consul at Geneva has learned18 from sources close to the League that the German Government is reported recently to have worked out a plan for the invasion and occupation of Liberia on the pretext of protecting German interests and German nationals. The object of this move would be not only to convert Liberia into a [Page 576] German colony but also to acquire a military base to buttress Germany’s claims for the return of her former colonies. According to this report, the plan was conceived prior to recent developments in Eastern Europe and was to have been put into execution after the consolidation of Germany’s position in that area as the first move in her colonial program. The story, it is added, might be ridiculed as preposterous except for the fact that it is said to have been initiated by Von Ribbentrop,19 whose radical tendencies and influence over Hitler are well known.
While we are not in a position to corroborate this report or to vouch for its authenticity, we feel that it should be brought informally to the attention of the Liberian Government in view of the promise in our telegram no. 52 of October 1520 to communicate information in respect to German colonial aspirations. You may, therefore, lay the report before President Barclay in strict confidence, at the same time observing that this Government has no basis on which to evaluate the information or to make any comment thereon. If further developments should occur they will be communicated to you.
Please expedite a reply to the Department’s 17, May 12, 3 p.m.
- Information reported to the Department in despatch No. 547 Political, dated May 5, not printed.↩
- Joachim von Ribbentrop, German Minister for Foreign Affairs.↩
- Foreign Relations, 1938, vol. ii, p. 840.↩