882.1561/7

Memorandum of Conversation, by Mr. Charles W. Lewis of the Division of Near Eastern Affairs

Participants: Captain Struble, U. S. N.
Captain Paul Foster, U. S. N.
Captain Hale, U. S. N.
Mr. Villard
Mr. Lewis

Mr. Villard reviewed briefly the interest of the Department and of President Barclay in the construction of a port in Liberia, and then stated that President Roosevelt had indicated to Mr. Berle26 that he was interested in seeing a port built in Liberia which could be utilized by our Navy, particularly for submarine purposes. Mr. Villard pointed out that while various points on the Liberian coast had been mentioned as possible sites for ports, including St. Paul River, Monrovia, Bassa Point and Hooper’s Patch (both near Marshall), and Baffu Bay, we were not in possession of sufficient information to enable [Page 681] the Department to make a decision as to which would be the best site, engineering and other technical factors considered, particularly if the port were to serve for naval purposes, Mr. Villard explained that his object in bringing this question to the attention of the Navy Department was to propose that the Navy Department conduct a survey for the purpose of ascertaining the most suitable place for the construction of the proposed port. He suggested that this might be accomplished on the basis of data available in Washington, or it might be necessary, if the available data were found inadequate, to send some naval engineers to Liberia to conduct an on-the-spot survey.

Captain Struble said that he would be glad to make inquiries in the Navy Department with a view to obtaining its reaction to Mr. Villard’s suggestion. Both he and Captain Foster were of the opinion that it might be advisable for the Department of State meanwhile to suggest to the President that he might wish to issue a directive to the Navy Department to conduct the survey. Mr. Villard agreed that this would probably be the best mode of procedure and informed the officers that their recommendation would be followed. At the suggestion of Captain Foster, it was also agreed that a statement should also be included in the communication to the President indicating the proposed means of financing the construction of the port and the amount of money which it was tentatively calculated would be needed for the project. The officers were informed that following informal conversations with Mr. Sidney De la Rue, of the Lend-Lease Administration, we had been assured by Mr. De la Rue of the interest of that agency in the project and had later been advised by Mr. De la Rue that the sum of $5,000,000 had been included in OLLA’s budget for the construction of a port in Liberia and for necessary access roads.

  1. Adolf A. Berle, Jr., Assistant Secretary of State.