882.20/580: Telegram
The Chargé in Liberia (Hibbard) to the Secretary of State
[Received 6:53 p.m.]
184. My telegrams Nos. 179, June 8, noon and 180 June 8, 2 p.m. The Secretary of State informed Routh this morning that after consulting the President with regard to the British desire to establish radio pack sets at Roberts Field and Fisherman Lake, the latter had stated that the Liberian Government could not grant such permission since these areas by agreement were now under the control of the American Government. In view of the Chief of Staff’s telegram to the commanding officer at Roberts Field (Department’s 141 of June 6, 3 p.m. received here June 8, 4 p.m.) this question is now settled.
Before seeing the Secretary of State, Routh had received a telegram from Sierra Leone stating that in view of our agreement with the Liberian Government there appeared to be no need to request permission for this installation. Routh had not previously known of this [Page 411] agreement and in discussing it with him I merely admitted its existence without giving him any details and urged upon him the necessity for secrecy until ratification by Liberia.
I believe it would be wise to withhold any further requests regarding British participation in our activity here until the agreement is ratified. While I do not anticipate any difficulties it has been made clear to me by a number of sources that the Liberians both dislike and distrust British activities here. Since the Presidential campaign has now opened it would be easy for opposition elements to exploit British participation in such a way as to create friction and make ratification difficult.