Office of the Historian

144. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Liberia1

Washington, July 19, 1957—6:33 p.m.

12. Padmore discussion with Department July 18 still leaves unclear Liberian position on Soviet proposed commercial treaty and establishment relations. Padmore oral presentation and aide-mémoire left with Department differ.2 He said Liberia planning “rebuff” Soviet overtures but aide-mémoire states LibGov will inform USSR, through London Embassy, not prepared negotiate this time but definitive answer in future, and remainder aide-mémoire leaves impression no real rebuff planned now. One passage appears to imply Liberians actively contemplate reverse of Ambassador’s remarks: Begin verbatim text ….3 the negotiation of a treaty with Russia or even the sending of Liberian officials to visit Moscow, would never change the avowed and determined opposition of the Liberian people to Communism or cause them to desist (sic) its infiltration into Liberia.4 End verbatim text. In view of this rather confused presentation, Department would appreciate your ascertaining as precisely as possible actual position LibGov.5

Dulles
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 661.76/7–1957. Confidential.↩
  2. Padmore and Grigsby met with Department officials led by Palmer. The aide-mémoire and the memorandum of conversation by Ross are both ibid., 661.764/7–1857.↩
  3. Ellipsis in the source text.↩
  4. The actual text reads: “Therefore, the negotiation of a treaty with Russia, or even the sending of Liberian Officials to visit Moscow, would never change the avowed and determined opposition of the Liberian people to Communism or cause them not to desist its infiltration into Liberia.”↩
  5. Jones replied in telegram 23, July 29, that the Liberian position was that stated in the aide-mémoire. Tubman told him that he hated the Soviets “like Satan disliked holy water” and did not want them in Liberia. (Department of State, Central Files, 661.76/7–2957)↩