Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, Africa, Volume XVIII

135. Memorandum of a Conversation Between the Ambassador in Liberia (Jones) and President Tubman, Monrovia, January 5, 1956²

Monrovia , January 5, 1956

SUBJECT

• Soviet Request to Establish Diplomatic Mission in Monrovia

This meeting occurred at 10:00 a.m. on January 5, 1956 at the Executive Mansion at the request of Ambassador Jones in response to the following situation:

The President on January 2 had sent the Ambassador a note informing him that the Soviet Delegation had sent him a message in which “They also intimated that they (the Delegation) have been instructed by their Government to have a confidential talk with me on several subjects, one being the exchange of diplomatic representation between our two countries.” (See attachment.³)

The Ambassador said that he appreciated the President’s gesture in calling him in on this problem, and that he interpreted the President’s action as an invitation to counsel him in this matter. The President said that that was precisely why he had called upon him. The Ambassador then said that he felt that it was necessary to let the President know what his Government’s position was concerning this development. He then said: 1) that the Government of the United States would be gravely concerned if the Government of Liberia accepted a diplomatic mission in Monrovia; 2) that Liberia’s other friends among the Western powers would also be concerned; 3) that the entrance of such a mission in Liberia would be a heavy blow to the internal stability of Liberia, since the Soviets were not interested in Liberia’s welfare but would use it to its own ends; 4) that once established in Liberia, the Soviets would have a foothold in West Africa and cause trouble in these countries striving to attain freedom and independence; 5) that the presence of the Soviets in Liberia would impede foreign investments for Liberia; and 6) that the United States would find it difficult to understand such action in the light of its long history of assistance to Liberia.

The President thanked the Ambassador for his remarks and said that he was fully aware of the dangers inherent in accepting a Soviet mission in Monrovia. He said that in the past week it was evident that the USSR was exerting pressure to achieve such an end. He showed the Ambassador a cable, signed by Twe Sung, in which the Red Chinese Government congratulated him on the occasion of his third inauguration and made commendatory comments about Liberia’s association with the Afro-Asian Conference at Bandung. He said that he knew that the Soviets were seeking to establish themselves in Liberia because they thought the attempted assassination last June⁴ was a sign of internal weakness and that they could stir up trouble in Liberia. He said that he did not propose to let the Soviets high pressure him into a quick decision, and that he did not want them in Liberia.

He said that he was meeting them on January 6, 1956 and that he proposed to deal with them re establishment of diplomatic relations in the following manner: 1) budgetary plans are already set and do not permit opening new diplomatic missions; 2) GOL is unable to open such missions in Belgium and Holland whose people are doing much business in Liberia; and 3) whatever action is taken will have to depend on the Legislature. He assured the Ambassador that he was not going to let the Soviets come into Liberia.

With respect to economic aid, Mr. Tubman asserted that he did not want aid, and would not receive it even if they offered $100,000,000. He said that he knew that they were tricky, that they were seeing many Liberians in Monrovia, and that he was fearful of what they would do if they gained entrance to either Liberia or West Africa. He stated that he had never heard of the Soviet proposal to give economic aid until he read it in the Liberian Age on January 3, 1956,⁵ and he did not appreciate their announcement before talking about it with him. He said that although Liberia had an open door policy, it was prepared to do business only with the democratic countries whose businessmen would have to stand on their own feet without any interference from their governments. He said that he was satisfied with U.S. aid which was all Liberia wanted, and that he was not going to allow anyone to play the United States off against any other country.

He concluded with the remark that in both these matters he was prepared to rebuff the Soviets, and that he would do this by dragging out the matter for a long, long time.

2. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 661.76/1–1156. Secret. Drafted by Simons. Enclosure to despatch 195 from Monrovia, January 11.
3. Not printed.
4. A former member of the Liberian National Police Force had tried to kill Tubman on June 22, 1955, at a reception. (Despatch 284 from Monrovia, June 26; Department of State, Central Files, 776.11/6–2655)
5. During an interview, Soviet Ambassador Volkov stated that the Soviet Union sought to know more about Liberia, hoped for friendly relations, and was prepared to offer economic aid and technical know-how. (Despatch 189 from Monrovia, January 4; ibid., 661.76/1–456)