882.1561/10
The Secretary of State to President Roosevelt
My Dear Mr. President: With reference to your letter of July 3, 1943, concerning a survey to be made, under the direction of the Navy Department, to determine the location of a proposed port in Liberia, a communication has been received from the Navy Department28 stating that its preliminary survey has been completed and that a careful study of engineering reports and other data available has led to the conclusion that the best site for the port is the estuary of the St. Paul River, four or five miles north of Monrovia. It is added, however, that probings and probably borings will be required to determine whether the cost of a port at this site would be prohibitive. Should a survey at the site indicate that the cost of the development would be prohibitive the Navy Department then recommends that Mamba Point, adjacent to Monrovia, be surveyed as an alternative site. The Navy Department feels that the survey on the St. Paul River site and, if necessary, on the Mamba Point site might well be undertaken by a civilian company, under an appropriate contract with the Liberian Government, but it has expressed its willingness to detail one or more observers to be present during the survey.
Since the Liberian Government does not have funds available for such a survey, it will be necessary, if the project is to be carried forward as suggested by the Navy Department, for this Government to provide the funds.
The Raymond Concrete Pile Company, a large and reputable American construction company, which is favorably known to the Navy Department, has estimated the cost of effecting the survey at the St. Paul River at $85,000. The Navy Department feels that this is a reasonable estimate.
On the basis of a War Department estimate made some months ago, it is calculated that a port could be constructed at the St. Paul River for $8,580,000. This estimate includes the cost of constructing docks, warehouses, water, light and sanitary facilities and oil storage tanks, which would form a part of the permanent harbor works. Adding the cost of the survey, the total cost of the port would be approximately $8,665,000.
The Lend-Lease Administration, with which the Department has had conversations on the subject, is understood to have funds available for the project. However, the Lend-Lease Administration will wish a directive from you before allocating the money.
[Page 686]If the port project is undertaken an agreement will be entered into between this Government and the Liberian Government for the protection of our naval interest in the port.
The Department recommends that the work be proceeded with as soon as possible. May I have an indication of your wishes in the matter?
Faithfully yours,
- Dated August 10, not printed.↩