882.001 Barclay, Edwin/30: Telegram
The Chargé in Liberia (Wharton) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 24—10:25 a.m.]
56. Referring to my telegram No. 54, September 8, 11 a.m. [p.m.]. On the afternoon of September 8, sixth young Liberian similarly imprisoned. It is said that the following day prisoners wrote scathing letter to President Barclay protesting against “kidnaping” by frontier force soldiers without charges first being preferred, and imprisonment in violation of constitutional guarantee of due process of law. Habeas corpus denied on the 13th and as yet no date fixed for the trial.
Referring to despatch No. 412, last February 21,1 Bulletin 4 dated September 4 has been published accusing Secretary of State Simpson of plotting against Barclay and yesterday I received by mail Bulletin 5 against Simpson and Attorney General Brownell.
James S. Wiles, former Consul General at Hamburg and cousin of the Speaker of the House, today was arrested and imprisoned in [Page 751] Monrovia prison for alleged sedition. I am informed that writs for his arrest and commitment were issued simultaneously and that bail approved by Justice of the Peace was denied by Brownell.
I am of the opinion that Barclay’s present course of action is unwise and ill-advised. Today’s arrest has further increased tension, it is quite evident opposition to him steadily increasing and present situation causing some concern.
Department will be kept informed.
- Not printed. Bulletins referred to were being published anonymously attacking the Barclay administration.↩