No. 752.
(J 2800/1495/24),
Confidential.
FOREIGN OFFICE, S.W.I
18th July, 1939.
mm
Sir,
4u. fl-
With reference to my despagreh Ho. 708 of ike lit
July regarding the position of Liberia in the event of
aggression, I have to inform Your Excellency that the
Counsellor of the United States Embassy called at this
department on Saturday, 8th July to discuss the recent
enquiry of the Liberian Government as to whether any
promise of assistance could be given to Liberia by His
Majesty's Government should she be the victim of aggression*
2.     Mr. Herschel Johnson said that the United States
Ambassador had received instructions from the State
Department to enquire whether any decision had yet been
reached as regards the reply to be returned to the above
mentioned enquiry of the Liberian Minister.     Mr. Johnson
was informed that on the 5th July the Liberian Minister had
been told that "His Majesty's Government could not remain
"indifferent if Liberia were the victim of unwarranted
"aggression which might have for its objective the
"establishment of a foreign Porror on her territory". The
Counsellor said that he thought that this reply would be
regarded as highly satisfactory by the State Department. He
went on to explain that Liberia is the only country outside
the United States of America which interests the negro voters
and that the State Department were rather disturbed by
the excessive zeal which the French Government had shown
in/
His Excellency
The Right Honourable
Sir Ronald Lindsay, G.C.M»Q,9 G.C0Bo*
etc.,     etc., etc.,
Washington.

3
in responding to the enquiry which the Llberian Government
had addressed to thertu   The State Department did not
view with favour the proposal that French black troops
and French officers and non-commissioned officers should
"be sent to Liberia, as they consider that Liberia is
unlikely to "be the victim, of aggression and that these
measures would be excessive.   He enquired what our
¦
views might he©
3o     MToHerschel Johnson was told that according
to the information at our disposal there are about 110
German nationals in Liberia who are shipping agents.
tuntry's
fhich would lead
As
ition was that the
iberian
to supply
Liberian Frontier
ian of
small tradespeople, etcay
are bad
the German Government to wie:
regards the French action,
French Government
Government a battalion of colonial
officers and equipment to reo3
Force to h strength or about
Liberian
French coloi
probably arise over
officers and for any equipment that might be provided for
the Liberian Frontier Force*   Mr»Herschel Johnson said that
the Unite<
Government of any ulterior political motives, but they
bly and zealously
fnt»   In reply it
was stated that for many years past successive French
Governments had taken aA interest in Liberia as one day they
might require transit facilities through that country tpv
the/
snt for the services of French
;ates Government did not suspect the French
wondered why they had responded so ]
to the enquiry of the Libe3

I
the hiriterland of French Guinea,   According to
information received from the French Embassy, however,
it would appear that the real reason for the activity'Pf the
French Government was a desire on the part of M. Mandel to
show that France is determined to keep Germany out of
Africa, and also to M. Mandel1s personal wish to impress
the world at large*
4*      As the State Department had been disquieted
by the somewhat excessive response made by the French
Government to Liberia1 s enquiry* it was thought well
to inform Mr.Herschel Johnson in confidence that the
Liberian Minister had enquired whether representatives
of the Liberian Government oould go to Sierra Leone and
have discussions with the Governor at Freetown and that
this enquiry had been transmitted to the Colonial Office.
It was suggested to Mr.Herschel Johnson that in all
probability the Liberian Government were perturbed at
finding that their conversations with the French
Government had not been approved in Washington and that
consequently, in order to show the United States Government
that they did not intend to become a French protectorate,
they wished to have conversations with the authorities
in the neighbouring British colony of Sierra Leone. It
was hoped that the State Department would not think that
His Majesty*s Government had any evil designs on Liberia
if they acceded to the request of the Liberian Government
and authorised the Commander-in-Chief at S ierra Leone
to receive the Liberian officials, whose visit to
Freetown would probably be of an unofficial character*
5*     The Counsellor was asked to request the
State Department to treat the statement which had been
made/
made to the Liberian Minister here as strictly
confidential, lest German propagandists should mafca
use there of it*
I am, with great truth and respect*
Sir,
Your Excellency's ohedient Servant*
(For the Secretary of State)
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