752.822/3: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Liberia ( Wharton )
34. Your 47, August 18, 9 p.m. The Department fully understands President Barclay’s reluctance to enter into relations with Spain at [Page 761] this time, and it shares Secretary Simpson’s misgivings with regard to the specific proposals of the Spanish representatives. President Barclay is, of course, well aware of the active colonial aspirations of certain European powers, and of the necessity of giving the most careful scrutiny to the background of proposals such as the present ones. Moreover, the President is probably not unmindful of the assistance rendered to General Franco by Germany and Italy during the Spanish Civil War and of the close relations maintained between the two Governments. In view of the lack of common interests between Liberia and Spain, and in the absence of any substantial trade or commercial prospects worth mentioning, no useful purpose would appear to be served by concluding a treaty between the two countries or exchanging diplomatic or consular representatives at this time.
With respect to the proposed Air Agreement, we are definitely concerned lest the right to construct an aviation “camp” in Liberia, which would undoubtedly serve as an important intermediate base for the flights between Seville and Bata, might involve commitments which would eventually enable Spain or possibly some other foreign Power with ulterior motives to secure a foothold in the country. However, since no nation enjoys exclusive air rights in Liberia, it would obviously be difficult to reject the Spanish request in its entirety. As an alternative, the Department would perceive no serious objection to granting to Spain for a reasonable period the right of air transit through Liberia, with the privilege of landing such as provided by the agreement between France and Liberia9 approved by the Liberian Legislature on December 11, 1936. If any such transit right should be accorded, however, it should be distinctly understood that it would not include the right (a) subsequently to extend the Spanish services across the Atlantic from Liberian territory, (b) to designate the place of landing in Liberia, (c) nor to operate wholly between points in Liberia such as taking on passengers and cargo at one place in the country and discharging them at another place therein.
In this connection the Liberian Government may be interested to know that an American air transport company has made application to the Civil Aeronautics Board for permission to operate a transatlantic route from the United States to Africa via Puerto Rico and Brazil. In view of the uncertainty of finding proper terminal facilities in West Africa today, the Government of Liberia might desire to invite any American air transport enterprises that may be interested to consider the possibility of using Liberian territory as a transatlantic terminal point. Without any assurances on the part of this [Page 762] Government that a Liberian terminal would be deemed either expedient or practicable by the American company, we should be glad to transmit any suggestion on the part of the Liberian Government to the appropriate quarters.
Please keep the Department fully informed by telegraph as to the status of the Spanish negotiations, particularly with respect to the activities of Bogaerde as Liberian Chargé d’Affaires in Spain.
- Signed at Paris, May 29, 1936. For text, see Journal Officiel de la République Française: Lois et Décrets, November 11, 1937, p. 12427, or International Commission for Air Navigation, Bulletin of Information, September 22, 1938, p. 14.↩