882.20/645
The Minister in Liberia (Walton) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 23.]
Sir: I have the honor to report that during the month of May the Liberian Government made formal and informal protests to the American Minister of alleged reprehensible conduct on the part of American soldiers toward Liberian citizens residing outside the designated military area, which protests were brought by the American Minister to the attention of the Commanding General8 of USAFIL.9
The charges included the unlawful entry into homes of Liberian citizens by the military police, confiscation of property, unlawful arrests, assault and robbery.
[Page 664]The President and the Secretary of State10 previously had informally protested to the American Minister against what they termed “the wanton acts of American soldiers who seem to be under the impression that they were members of an army of occupation rather than an army of collaboration.”
These informal protests culminated in the transmission of a formal note to the American Minister dated May 20, 1943, by the Liberian Secretary of State who related a series of incidents involving American soldiers. The request was made by the Liberian Government that “due regard be had for the terms of the agreement between the Governments of Liberia and America;11 that the impression be dispelled that American soldiers temporarily stationed in Liberia constitute a foreign army of occupation”; that “they (American soldiers) should be informed that they have no right whatever to arrest people outside of the military area and that Liberians committing offenses in the defense areas should be turned over to the Liberian authorities for prosecution as provided in the agreement.”
On May 22, the day following the receipt of formal note above referred to, the American Minister visited the President who expressed indignation over an incident which had been reported to him by the Collector of Customs. The President related that on the morning of May 22 four armed military policemen had entered the office of the Supervisor of Revenues and inquired of one William Stubblefield; that the Liberian appeared on the scene and was informed he was under arrest and should accompany the military police. The President stated he had instructed the Liberian Secretary of State to send the American Minister a formal note requesting that the incident be brought to the immediate attention of the Commanding General and requesting the immediate release of Stubblefield.
On returning to the Legation the American Minister found the second formal note transmitted within two days, and informed the Commanding General by telegraph of the Liberian Government’s insistence on Stubblefield’s release. A telegram was received from the Commanding General denying that Stubblefield was under arrest and asserting that according to a report he had received his soldiers had called on Stubblefield, at the instance of the local police, who temporarily had been held in custody in Monrovia. However, the local police emphatically denied any such request had been made by them. Stubblefield was suspected of having in his possession dynamite stolen from the camp.
[Page 665]As irritation of the Liberian people, both public and press, was increasing over the alleged “outrages” and additional protests were being received at the Legation, the American Minister saw fit to visit the Commanding General May 25. They engaged in a protracted, satisfactory talk relative to taking steps to ameliorate the situation. The Commanding General assigned the staff Judge Advocate and a commanding officer of an infantry battalion to investigate the various complaints.
The following morning the two officers conferred with the American Minister, who sent them to the Secretary of State with the request that the Liberian Government make available the desired witnesses. An investigation was held in the office of the Superintendent of Police in Monrovia. As there was slight disagreement between the army officers and the Superintendent of Police over the question of procedure, the army officers were taken to the home of the Secretary of State by the American Minister where the subject was discussed and an amicable understanding reached. The following day the investigation was conducted along the lines agreeable to the military.
While the investigation was being held the American Minister received other protests, including a formal note from the Liberian Government. One complaint was made by a Liberian, alleging the military policemen had entered his home on the Firestone Plantations and confiscated his liquor. In his formal note the Secretary of State charged that American and native military police had visited Hoewehn Town and demanded the Clan Chief to surrender hut tax collections. This alleged disregard of Liberian sovereignty is said to have been occasioned because a military policeman gave a willing ear to a native who harbored a grievance that he had been mistreated by the Clan Chief in the collection of hut tax.
Upon receipt of all charges, formal and informal, the American Minister directed them to the attention of the Commanding General whose replies were transmitted to the Liberian Secretary of State.
It became increasingly obvious to the American Minister that protests of Liberians, the exchange of formal notes and denials by the American Military only aggravated the situation, and that unless contributory factors were eliminated there would probably arise additional provocations and misunderstandings. Moreover, the fact was inescapable that well-meaning but over-zealous American and native military police at times had exceeded their authority.
On June 3, with a view to reconciling the differences which had arisen between the Liberian Government and the American Military over the question of the prerogative of the American Military to arrest Liberian citizens, and to minimize the possibility of a recurrence of incidents complained of, the American Minister wrote what [Page 666] were almost identic notes to the Liberian Secretary of State and to the Commanding General suggesting that a meeting be held between the appropriate representatives of the Liberian Government, the American Military and the American Legation. The Commanding General promptly accepted the proposal and the Liberian Secretary of State did likewise.
With his letter of acceptance the Commanding General transmitted a copy of instructions just issued defining the status of American troops in Liberia. In the memorandum, organization commanders were ordered to take such steps as will insure that all members of military units are fully informed as to the contents.
Further proof of the Commanding General’s determination to put an end to the arrest of Liberians outside the military area and to other charges of misbehavior in public was indicated by his appointment on June 5 of a new Provost Marshal who was instructed to compel all soldiers to conduct themselves properly while off the military reservation.
The newly-appointed Provost Marshal visited the American Minister Sunday, June 6, and gave assurance of his intentions to carry out to the best of his ability the Commanding General’s instructions. He was accompanied by Mr. M. Dukuly, Stipendiary Magistrate of the Bondiway Court, who promised whole-hearted cooperation.
While the conference proposed by the American Minister has not been held, it can be confidently predicted that there is little likelihood of a repetition of offenses charged.
I transmit herewith copies of formal and informal protests, copy of communication from Commanding General making known results of investigations, other correspondence and press comment dealing with the subject.12
Respectfully yours,
- Brig. Gen. P. L. Sadler.↩
- United States Army Forces in Liberia.↩
- Edwin Barclay and Clarence L. Simpson, respectively.↩
- Signed at Monrovia, March 31, 1942. For text, see Department of State Executive Agreement Series No. 275, or 56 Stat. (pt. 2) 1621; for correspondence relating to this agreement, see Foreign Relations, 1942, vol. iv, pp. 355 ff.↩
- Enclosures not printed.↩