Ambassador Reid to the Secretary of State.

No. 1205.]

Sir: With reference to your cable instruction of March 5,1 informing me that the President will, probably within a fortnight, send a special message to Congress with regard to our relations with Liberia, and that meanwhile it is desirable to maintain there the statu quo, I have the honor to inclose herewith a copy of my note to the foreign office, dated the 7th instant, in which I express the hope that Great Britain may be disposed also to acquiesce in the status quo until the proposed action of the United States in assistance of Liberia shall have been definitely determined.

I have, etc.,

Whitelaw Reid.
[Inclosure.]

Ambassador Reid to the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Sir: Under the instructions of my Government I have the honor to advise you that the President of the United States will soon, probably within a fortnight, send a special message to the Congress on our relations with Liberia. A response to the requests of Liberia will soon thereafter be made and a representative sent to Monrovia to negotiate concerning them. Meanwhile Liberia is expected to maintain the status quo, as stated by our commission, and avoid all entanglements. But at present my Government is informed that boundary negotiations with Liberia are actively pressed. In view of the above facts, as well as of the peculiar relations long existing between the United States and Liberia, perhaps you will regard as not unreasonable the hope which my Government entertains and has instructed me to communicate, that you may be disposed also to acquiesce in the status quo, until the proposed action of the United States in assistance of Liberia shall have been definitely determined.

I have, etc.,

Whitelaw Reid.
  1. Not printed See inclosure to this dispatch.