740.0011 European War 1939/22594: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Liberia (Hibbard)
178. Your 219, June 30, 8 p.m. War Department feels that the position of the United States should be made secure by an informal exchange of notes with the Liberian Government substantially along the following lines:
“I have the honor to refer to the agreement governing military use of airports in defense areas in Liberia, and to inform Your Excellency that my Government accepts the construction placed upon Article II by the joint resolution of June 29, 1942 of the Liberian legislature, it being understood however that nothing contained in this article shall be deemed to deprive the Government of the United [Page 386] States of its right under general international law to take measures to secure the safety of its own forces and their installations including but not limited to the trial by an appropriate tribunal of the United States of spies, saboteurs, and other offenders against the law of war, whatever their nationality.”
The reason for requiring such an interpretative exchange of notes is that the amendments made by the Liberian Legislature apparently do not provide for such contingencies as, for example, acts of espionage committed by a Firestone employee not connected with the defense operations, whether or not he is of Liberian nationality. We are confident that President Barclay will understand this position and that there will be no difficulty in arranging for a prompt exchange of notes.