882.20/474½
The Under Secretary of State (Welles) to President Roosevelt
My Dear Mr. President: In connection with the efforts which the Government of Liberia is making to provide for its defense in case of [Page 604] hostilities, you recently discussed with me the possibility of the Liberian authorities purchasing one or more field pieces mounted on tractors. The question of Liberia obtaining coast defense guns or field pieces mounted on tractors has been considered by experts in the War and Navy Departments who are of the opinion that so far as defense against external aggression is concerned Liberia must rely upon the naval and aerial forces of its British and French neighbors. In this connection you will be interested to know that our Embassy in London reports that an official of the British Foreign Office on July 5 made the following oral statement to the Liberian Minister in London in reply to the latter’s request for information as to what support Liberia could count upon receiving from Great Britain in the event of an attack upon Liberian territory:
“His Majesty’s Government could not remain indifferent if Liberia were the victim of unwarranted aggression which would have for its objective the establishment of a foreign power on her territory.”
Our Army and Navy experts feel that the most Liberia can do is to provide against any possibility of hostile action from within, such as an attempt by unfriendly aliens residing in the country to overthrow the Government and seize power. To provide against such a contingency our experts believe that the Liberian Government would be well advised to increase its frontier force from the present strength of about 650 men to a total of 1,000 men and to purchase a suitable number of machine guns. The War and Navy Department authorities are of the opinion that field pieces, either mounted on tractors or unmounted, would not be appropriate to put down internal outbreaks and that machine guns are the most useful weapons for such a purpose. They point out, moreover, that a mounted field piece would cost about $48,000, and in that connection they refer to the small sum of money which Liberia can make available for defense measures without imperiling its financial position. The present Liberian budget totals less than $1,000,000 and the amount required to increase the frontier force and to purchase machine guns would seem to be all that the budget can absorb at this time.
Our Minister at Monrovia recently reported that the President of Liberia had given instructions that the country’s defense forces were to be increased. We are now ascertaining what steps the Liberian Government is taking to that end. At the same time we are offering to find out the lowest price at which the Liberians can purchase machine guns in this country if they so desire.
In view of all the above circumstances, and bearing in mind the assurances which the Liberians have received from the British Foreign [Page 605] Office, the steps being taken would seem to be adequate to meet the immediate requirements of the situation.
Faithfully yours,