882.7962/129a: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Chargé in Liberia (Hibbard)
Washington, October 9,
1942—7 p.m.
257. Your 327, October 6. For McBride. The Department does not have in mind any further instructions except as follows:
- (1)
- Concerning censorship, there remains the unquestionable desirability of as complete coverage as possible of air and seaborne mails and of radio and wire communications entering and leaving Liberia. The adoption of appropriate measures is an objective which remains unaffected by Brazil’s entry into the war or by any censorship operations undertaken by Brazil. The Department feels that the unsupervised efforts of the Liberian authorities would be inadequate for the operation of effective censorship and, therefore, that American supervision of such censorship as the Liberian authorities may be persuaded to establish is desirable.
- Please bring the above considerations to the attention of President Barclay and inform us of his reaction thereto; if he approves in principle, the Department will take up with Censorship the possibility of sending an officer or officers to effect the supervision in question.
- (2)
- The Department has recommended the McDaniel proposals39 to the Export-Import Bank, and we now await the latter’s decision on the question of a loan to McDaniel to finance the project. You might mention this matter to President Barclay, and in the light of this development and your earlier discussions perhaps you could prepare the ground further for a possible request by McDaniel for a concession. As you know, if a loan is granted, the whole project, including a port at St. Paul River, would hinge on the granting of a concession by the Liberian Government. Pending a decision by the Export-Import Bank we wish this matter treated as confidential between the Legation and President Barclay.
- (3)
- The Department is disturbed by the seeming ill will of President Barclay toward Firestone, since we regard close cooperation between the Liberian Government and Firestone as a matter of particular importance during the war time emergency. Perhaps you could discuss this subject discreetly with the President before you leave with a view to bringing about a better understanding.
- (4)
- Your family is very well.
Welles
- Proposals for the economic development of Liberia made by Mr. Charles B. McDaniel, American businessman experienced in the successful promotion of American capital investment in Europe and Africa. The proposals were favorably considered and encouraged by the Department of State. Correspondence for the period 1941–42, consisting in most part of inter-Departmental memoranda, is not printed.↩