882.20/478½
Memorandum by the Acting Chief of the Division of Near Eastern Affairs (Alling) and the Chief of the Division of Controls (Green)
The Liberian Government fears the possibility of an attack upon the capital by Germans resident in the country. We have reason to believe that these fears may not be entirely unjustified.
The Liberian Frontier Force, as at present armed, would probably find it difficult to cope with a well-organized coup on the part of German residents. It would, however, be in a position to cope with such a coup and probably to prevent it if the Frontier Force were increased from its present strength of 650 to 1,000 and if it could obtain 15 or 20 machine guns. An American negro, a former American Army officer, has been retained by the Liberian Government as [Page 607] a military adviser. He is competent to train the Liberians in the use of machine guns.
The Colt’s Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company has informed the Department it would be prepared to sell and deliver immediately to the Liberian Government fully equipped machine guns at the nominal price of $200 per gun.
This memorandum has been seen and approved by the Acting Secretary of the Navy and the Chief of Staff of the Army.
- Paul H. Alling
- Joseph C. Green