740.00112 European War 1939/2760: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom ( Winant )
1836. We have been concerned recently at the attitude of the British Chargé d’Affaires in Monrovia toward the Firestone Plantations Company and its subsidiaries in Liberia. Apparently on his own initiative the Chargé d’Affaires has persistently endeavored to compel the Bank of Monrovia and the United States Trading Company, both owned by Firestone, to cease transacting business with German firms in Liberia and with neutral firms on the British statutory list. On the other hand, the Liberian Secretary of State has warned the Manager of the Bank that to deny facilities to a belligerent or neutral national in the ordinary course of banking business would be a tacit violation of the Proclamation of Neutrality issued by the Government of Liberia [Page 522] and might also subject the bank to action at law for damages. Incidentally the Bank of Monrovia is the official repository of Liberian government funds.
On May 14 the British Chargé d’Affaires in writing demanded a “solemn undertaking” from the Bank that it would transfer no more funds abroad for German interests. He is also reported (1) to have written to clients of the bank that he will issue no navicerts for gold shipments made through that institution, (2) to have refused the bank’s navicert application for 419 ounces of gold on the ground that the bank had not agreed to refrain from transferring funds for Germans, and (3) to have instructed traders to ship their gold through two British firms. On a previous occasion the Chargé d’Affaires sought to have the bank placed on the statutory list, but is understood that no action was taken on this recommendation following informal representations made by the Department to the British Embassy.
The American Minister in Monrovia reported by telegraph on May 22 that the British Chargé d’Affaires on that date in the presence of a prominent Liberian and two Europeans had stated 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.
While the Department has on several occasions suggested to officials of the British Embassy that the aggressive attitude of the Chargé d’Affaires seemed wholly unwarranted in the light of the small amount of trade in Liberia still in German hands, the friction and irritation caused by his apparently unfriendly approach to existing problems now seems to have reached a point where there may arise the question of his further usefulness in Liberia. For your confidential information much of the trouble seems to lie in the tactlessness of the Chargé d’Affaires, whose return to Monrovia for a second assignment was far from welcome to Liberians.
Please seek an early opportunity to discuss this situation with the appropriate officials of the Foreign Office, pointing out the traditional interest which the United States Government has in the economy and welfare of Liberia and the great importance from the defense standpoint which we attach to the legitimate operations of Firestone in that country. In the latter connection it would appear singularly inappropriate that Firestone should encounter difficulties with the British representative in Liberia when his organization everywhere is endeavoring to cooperate with the British war effort to the fullest possible extent. We are confident that an amicable informal understanding can be reached on all problems arising in Liberia, given the proper amount of good will and a reasonable attitude on the part of the British Legation.