882.20/476½
Memorandum by the Undersecretary of State (Welles) to the Acting Chief of the Division of Near Eastern Affairs (Alling)
When I saw Mr. Green42 today upon another matter, I discussed this question with him in general terms. I wish you would both obtain for me in as brief a form as possible memoranda giving the views of Army and Navy on these questions, as well as a memorandum setting forth the willingness of the manufacturers of this country with whom Mr. Green has spoken to supply machine guns to the Liberian Government at cost. I likewise desire a further memorandum indicating whether [Page 606] or not the War Department is able to obtain six non-commissioned officers of the reserve who might be available to go to Liberia to give the training necessary for the utilization of the matériel suggested.
When I have these documents, I will ask the President to give me an opportunity to discuss the question further with him and I will then suggest to him that it would presumably be helpful for him to call in General Marshall and Admiral Stark in order to find a way of carrying out the ideas he has in mind.
- Joseph C. Green, Chief of the Division of Controls.↩