882.1561/20
The Acting Secretary of State to the Minister in Liberia (Walton)
Sir: There is enclosed herewith a draft30 of a proposed agreement with Liberia relating to the construction of a port and port works on the coast of Liberia.
There is enclosed also a Full Power,30 signed by the President, authorizing you to negotiate, conclude and sign an agreement between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of Liberia relating to the construction of a port and port works on the coast of Liberia.
It is requested that at your earliest convenience you take up with the appropriate Liberian authorities the matter of negotiating, concluding and signing an agreement along the lines of the enclosed draft. The draft has the approval of the interested authorities of this Government. It should be understood that in the course of negotiations for an agreement of the character here proposed, either Government retains full liberty to propose such changes or modifications before the agreement is signed as may be considered by such Government to be desirable. It is expected that the Liberian authorities may wish to propose certain changes or modifications in the draft, in as much as they have not been afforded an opportunity to express their views concerning the terms of the proposed agreement or concerning the phraseology of the draft, except in so far as their views may have been reflected by informal comments made by the Liberian Consul General at New York.
It is requested that you inform the Department with respect to any counterdraft or counterproposal which may be received by you from the Liberian authorities in connection with this matter. The Department will send you such further instructions as may seem to it to be necessary as a result of any counterproposals which may be made by the Liberian authorities.
Alternat copies of the agreement will be prepared by the appropriate Liberian authorities for signature in Monrovia, after the text has [Page 688] been agreed upon by both Governments. The form of the alternat is explained at large in Foreign Service Regulations, Chapter XI, section 2. Before signing the agreement the Legation will undertake to make certain that the text as prepared for signature is in all respects the same as the text agreed upon.
When the agreement has been signed you will transmit to the Department the original signed alternat for the United States of America.
You should inform the Department by telegram in advance of the date fixed for the signing of the agreement, for the attention of the Treaty Division, in order that the Department may prepare an appropriate press release. You should also inform the Department by telegram when the agreement has been signed.
Very truly yours,