145. Despatch From the Embassy in Liberia to the Department of State 1
SUBJECT
- Appraisal of President Tubman and Liberian Diplomatic Developments
Summary
Recent Liberian diplomatic developments are reviewed and compared with statements of President Tubman to me. I am fully aware that there is not always complete agreement between those statements and acts of the Government. An explanation for this discrepancy is given.
- 1.
- In view of Liberian diplomatic developments in recent months, I
believe that it is desirable for me to give the Department the
benefit of my thinking concerning President Tubman’s position on these
matters. But first, I would like to call attention briefly to the
developments to which reference has been made.
- (a)
- A Liberian delegation, headed by Secretary of Agriculture and Commerce John W. Cooper, visited the USSR in September 1957, as guests of the Soviets. Since his return to Liberia, the Secretary has continually lauded the material achievements of the Soviets publicly, privately, and to the press. This, plus Sputniks I and II, has set many Liberians to thinking and talking in more favorable terms concerning the USSR.
- (b)
- The Government of Liberia (GOL) agreed to establish diplomatic relations with Israel and Nationalist China as of August 22, 1957. Israel rapidly implemented the agreement, and soon opened an Embassy in Monrovia. There have been several pro-Israel gestures on the part of the GOL during the past three months, and the Government-subsidized press has devoted considerable space to pro-Israel news stories. Nothing further has been heard with reference to Chinese recognition.
- (c)
- The Liberian Government announced that Egypt and Liberia agreed to establish Legations in Cairo and Monrovia as of November 1. Then, without previous publicity, a 10-man Egyptian “economic” mission suddenly arrived in Monrovia November 24 as guests of the GOL. In reality, the delegation came for political and propaganda purposes and not for economic reasons. During their visit, which lasted 10 days (they are due to leave today), it was announced that the Egyptian Ambassador—not Minister—would arrive in six weeks. This meant that the missions have already been raised to the Embassy level.
- (d)
- During an interview with President Tubman on November 28, he told me that Liberia plans to name one Ambassador to Egypt, Lebanon and Syria in February or March 1958. This was the first [Page 412] time that the President had mentioned recognition of Syria to me. The information also indicated that Lebanon and Liberia are to raise their missions from Legations to Embassies, as in the case of Egypt and Israel.
- 2.
-
Throughout my long, intimate association with President Tubman he has repeatedly told me that he dislikes communism and he will try to keep communists out of Liberia. He has continued to tell me that he does not intend to establish diplomatic relations with the USSR, although in an interview on November 28 he added “at least for the present.”
The President has also expressed his antipathy for Nasser because of the latter’s war-like activities in the Near East. In an interview with him this morning, he definitely implied that he is unhappy to have an Egyptian diplomatic mission established in Liberia.2 He also brought out in our conversation that the Egyptians have pushed too hard and too fast—first, recognition; then a large “economic” delegation visiting Liberia less than a month after recognition; and now, sending their Ambassador here so quickly. I also got the impression that he is aware that Liberia may be infiltrated by communists—Egyptian, by inference—and he is concerned about it.
I am aware that the President’s statements have not always coincided with expressions of his cabinet secretaries and action of the Government as a whole. I believe that he has not altered his personal position, but he has been and still is under pressure from some of his advisers and supporters to permit the Government to take the steps mentioned in part 1, above. For reasons best known to him, he has acquiesced in their proposals.
For purposes of conjecture, however, I am of the opinion that part of the explanation of the apparent discrepancy between statement and fact is to be found in Liberia’s rivalry with Ghana. The GOL simply does not want to be left behind or be outstripped on the diplomatic level by her neighbor. There seems to be the basic attitude that if Ghana can deal with the Russians and Egyptians, so can Liberia. Also, in order to maintain internal political harmony, I suspect that the President has not deemed it wise to continue to force all of his personal views on his supporters. In other words, he is agreeing to diplomatic moves with which he is not necessarily in sympathy in order to strengthen his domestic political position.
I am fully cognizant of this general anomalous situation, and shall continue to analyze developments closely, particularly with [Page 413] reference to statements of the President as related to acts of the Government.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 776.11/12–457. Secret.↩
- Ambassador Jones accompanied an ICA evaluation team to an interview with Tubman. Tubman was worried that the Egyptian trade delegation’s concern was with political matters. (Memorandum of conversation by Bourgerie; ibid., AF/AFS Files: Lot 60 D 37)↩