Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1941, The British Commonwealth; The Near East and Africa, Volume III

740.00112 European War 1939/2760: Telegram

The Minister in Liberia (Walton) to the Secretary of State

Monrovia, May 22, 1941—2 p.m.
[Received May 23—12:22 p.m.]

47. Bank of Monrovia’s application for navicert to ship 419 ounces of gold refused on the ground that bank has not agreed not to transfer funds for Germans. British Chargé d’Affaires has instructed traders not to ship gold through Bank of Monrovia but through two British firms.

British Chargé d’Affaires in the presence of prominent Liberian and two Europeans today avowed he was out to get Harvey Firestone and that he paid no attention to Liberian neutrality because Liberia was not strong enough to enforce it.

Please advise this Legation if the British Chargé d’Affaires is acting under instructions of his Government; also should this Legation refuse British applicant consular invoices for gold shipments.

Walton