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

740.00112 European War 1939/3600: Telegram

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

Washington, October 6, 1941—9 p.m.

58. Department is informed by Firestone that British Consul intends to blacklist Oost-Afrikanische Company if it accepts transfer of funds from the Bank of Monrovia for account of Woermann Company, and that Liberian Government has ordered Oost-Afrikanische to accept this business under government’s neutrality proclamation or lose its license.

You should discuss this matter with your British colleague, reminding him of the Department’s understanding that controversies involving Firestone or its subsidiaries in Liberia should be referred through the British Foreign Office to the British Embassy in Washington. The Department is taking up the case with the latter in this instance.

Hull