882.20/493
The Ambassador in France (Bullitt) to the Secretary of
State
No. 4911
Paris, August 31, 1939.
[Received
September 19.]
Sir: I have the honor to refer to my
telegram No. 1658 of August 29, 7 p.m.,48 and to enclose herewith,
with English translation, a copy of a note addressed by the French
Foreign Office, under date of August 26, 1939, to the Liberian
Legation in Paris.
In furnishing me with a copy of this note, the Liberian Minister
expressed his deepest personal thanks and the gratitude of the
Liberian Government for the assistance given in this matter by this
Mission.
Respectfully yours,
[Enclosure—Translation]
The French Ministry for
Foreign Affairs to the Liberian
Legation in France
Under date of the 17th instant, the Liberian Legation kindly
handed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs an aide-mémoire reading as follows:
“In the course of negotiations which took place in Paris
and in Monrovia between the French Government and the
Liberian Government, the latter was greatly gratified to
be able to note the assurance given to it by the
Government of the French Republic concerning the help
which the latter would give it in the case of an
aggression against Liberian territory being committed by
an enemy power aiming at the occupation of the said
territory.
“The help to be given by France in such case would be, it
seems, for the most part, of an interior nature, i. e.,
would consist of military preparation and the defense of
the Liberian territory by French land forces in
conjunction with the Liberian Army. The question as to
the most effective form under which such help should be
given is at present being discussed by the two
Governments.
[Page 612]
“Pending the solution of this question, the Liberian
Government, having gathered the assurance that the
British Government could not disinterest itself in such
an aggression, is anxious to know whether the Government
of the French Republic would be ready to confirm its
assurance as regards possible exterior aid, i. e., naval
or aerial, should the case contemplated in the assurance
already given present itself.”
In acknowledging to the Legation the receipt of this aide-mémoire, the Ministry has the honor
to inform it that the Government of the Republic, on its side,
could not remain indifferent in case of an aggression by a third
power against Liberian territory.
For the Minister for Foreign Affairs and by
procuration
The Ambassador of France
Secretary General(Signed)
A[lexis] L[éger]
