882.20/577: Telegram

The Chargé in Liberia ( Hibbard ) to the Secretary of State

179. The British Chargé d’Affaires56 has shown me a telegram from Royal Air Force headquarters in Sierra Leone instructing him to request permission from the Liberian Government to set up a pack radio station at Roberts Field with 5 operators and a similar station near Cape Palmas. The telegram states that Royal Air Force, Washington, and the British Air Ministry wish these stations for more adequate shipping protection and that they consider the British Legation here the appropriate channel through which to take the matter up. I told him that this seemed to me to be duplication of effort as we already had adequate radio facilities at Roberts Field and that it was my understanding all requests for British use of our facilities in Liberia should come through the British staff in Washington. See Department’s telegram No. 112, May 14, 11 p.m. Routh believes that consultation has already taken place in Washington although this is not clear in the telegram and has accordingly this morning requested the permission of the Liberian Government. Has the Department any instructions for my guidance?

Hibbard
  1. Augustus C. Routh.