File No. 741.8215/44. The Acting Secretary of State to the American Ambassador to Great Britain. [Telegram.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington April 15, 1912. Your April twelve. Express to Foreign Office high appreciation of this Government regarding forbearance British Government in Liberian boundary troubles. WILSON. File No. 741.8215/48. The American Minister to the Secretary of State. [Telegram.] AMERICAN LEGATION, Monrovia, May 9, 1912. British Government objects to G. Mason, alleging incompetency. [Appointment on the boundary commission.] Appointment another surveyor imperative. Boundary Commission ready to proceed. Expense delay chargeable to the Liberian Government. Liberian President requests me to ascertain whether Captain Young may serve as Liberian Commissioner. Believe British Government would appreciate such service. CRUM. File No. 741.8215/48. The Acting Secretary of State to the American Minister. [Telegram.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Your May 9. Impossible for Young, officer United States Army and Military Attaché, to accept position under Liberian Government. Would not Ballard, Browne, or Newton possess qualifications to perform duties? WILSON. File No. 741.8215/49. The American Minister to the Secretary of State. [Telegram.] AMERICAN LEGATION, Department's May 14. Captain Young says Ballard capable of performing duties and recommends his appointment on boundary commission. Liberian Government accepts recommendation. CRUM. File No. 751.8215/60. The American Minister to the Secretary of State. [Telegram.] AMERICAN LEGATION, Monrovia, May 16, 1912. British Consul complains of nonappearance of Cooper and Lomax at Monrovia. Whereabouts unknown but it is supposed near the coast. Not on Sierra Leone boundary since February. King and Morris here. CRUM. File No. 741.8215/52. The Secretary of State to the American Minister. [Telegram.] DEPARTMENT of State, Your May 16. Telegram received from Ambassador at London states Foreign Office informs him that in spite of promises given by Liberian Government that their officials on the Anglo-Liberian boundary would be recalled, on April 29 Lomax and Cooper were still in neighborhood of frontier and that Government of Sierra Leone has reported three cairns destroyed by soldiers of Liberia who are crossing boundary line and making use of road passing through British territory. It is feared that this Government can no longer induce Great Britain to refrain from taking harsh measures against Liberia. Urge immediate action in restoring order. Cable what is being done. KNOX. File No. 741.8215/52. The Secretary of State to the American Ambassador to Great Britain. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] DEPARTMENT of State, Washington, May 21, 1912. The American Minister at Monrovia reports that the whereabouts of Cooper and Lomax are unknown, that they have not been on the Sierra Leone boundary since February and that they are supposed to be near the coast. The American ex-Army officers engaged by the Liberian Government for the reorganization of the frontier force have arrived at Monrovia. The Liberian Government has appointed one of them on the Anglo-Liberian boundary commission. It is believed that conditions will soon improve. Request the British Government to refrain from taking harsh measures until results of the reorganization become evident. KNOX. File No. 741.8215/55. The American Minister to the Secretary of State. [Telegram.] AMERICAN LEGATION, Monrovia, May 23, 1912. Referring to your May 21. Liberian Government doing its utmost to bring Lomax and Cooper to Monrovia. Conferred with President Howard yesterday, he realized gravity of the situation. Strenuous methods being used. Lomax and Cooper are reported to be within six days walk of Monrovia. Morris, Cabinet officer, and Captain Brown with instructed escort left to-day to bring them in. Messenger relay arranged. Will keep Department informed. Stuart, Liberian Commissioner on Anglo-Liberian boundary, reports cairns were not destroyed by Liberian soldiers but washed out by freshets. Liberia begs continued good offices of the Government of the United States and with forbearance of British Government I believe incident can be satisfactorily closed. CRUM. NOTE. The above telegram was communicated to the American Embassy to Great Britain May 25, 1912. File No. 741.8215/58. The American Minister to the Secretary of State. [Telegram.] AMERICAN LEGATION, Monrovia, June 26, 1912. My May 23. Cooper and Lomax brought to Monrovia to-day. CRUM. File No. 741.8215/59. The Secretary of State to the American Minister. [Telegram.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Telegram received from Ambassador at London reports that Foreign Office in note of twenty-sixth instant transmits statements of various witnesses received from Governor of Sierra Leone relative to execution of eight native chiefs by Liberian officials at Kolahun. Taking these statements as a whole Foreign Office is of opinion that cruel and cold blooded murder was committed and that Lomax and Cooper were present and connived. Witnesses swear that Lomax himself shot many persons. Ambassador also informed that documents have been forwarded to British Consul General Monrovia with instructions to communicate them to Liberian Government. You will immediately bring this matter to attention of Liberian Government expressing confidence of this Government that these reports will receive a searching investigation and if found to be true to any degree that guilty parties will be dealt with according to law. KNOX. File No. 741.8215/61. The American Chargé d'Affaires to the Secretary of State. [Telegram.] AMERICAN LEGATION, Monrovia, September 22, 1912. Lomax was only indicted for murder of two of the eight chiefs he is charged with killing. He was acquitted Friday after trial lasting just two days. Cooper was indicted for murder of one chief, tried separately, acquitted Saturday after trial lasting one day. Government made very weak cases, important witnesses not summoned. It is alleged that material evidence was suppressed. Foreign representatives and local unbiased opinion regard trial as farcical. President very feebly supported by several members of his Cabinet and influential Government officials. Public gratification over acquittals shows general unpopularity of all efforts of Administration to bring accused officials to justice. BUNDY. File No. 741.8215/63. The American Chargé d'Affaires at London to the Secretary of State. No. 2127.] AMERICAN EMBASSY, SIR: I have the honor to report that the Liberian Minister called upon me this morning and left with me a memorandum in regard to the case of Messrs. Lomax and Cooper, who have recently been acquitted by the Court of Quarter Sessions and Common Pleas at Monrovia. It appears that there was a widespread conspiracy instigated by the late chiefs to overthrow the power of the Liberian Government in the interior, and that but for their timely and drastic actions, there would have been a repetition of the Sierra Leone raid of 1898. I beg to inclose a copy of the memorandum. I have [etc.] [Inclosure-Memorandum.] WILLIAM PHILLIPS. The Liberian Minister to the American Chargé d'Affaires at London. The case of Lomax and Cooper came up for hearing at the last term of the Court of Quarter Sessions and Common Pleas. After a trial of three days the jury brought in a verdict of acquittal in their behalf. Of course the Executive Government have done all that was in their power to do and placed before the courts all the evidence which they had. The defense set up the plea of justification stating that there was a widespread conspiracy instigated by the late chiefs to overthrow the power of the Government in the interior, and that but for their timely and drastic actions, there would have been a repetition of the Sierra Leone Raid of 1898. Shortage of ammunitions, distance from Monrovia, lack of railway or other quick traveling facilities and the arrears of pay of most of the soldiers suggested to them the course of action which they pursued. LIBERIAN LEGATION, London, October 16, 1912. NOTE. For a statement of the President of Liberia on this subject see "Message of the President," ante, p. 649 et seq. REORGANIZATION OF THE LIBERIAN FRONTIER FORCE UNDER AMERICAN OFFICERS. File No. 882.20. No. 10.] The American Minister to the Secretary of State. AMERICAN LEGATION, Monrovia, April 17, 1911. SIR: I have the honor to herewith transmit a copy of a dispatch received from the Liberian Government, concerning the assistance which the President of the United States has intimated to the Liberian Government it was his intention to lend it,' in its military department. I most respectfully request that this matter receive from the Department whatever action seems appropriate to it in the premises. I am [etc.] WM. D. CRUM. [Inclosure.] The Liberian Secretary of State to the American Minister. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, EXCELLENCY: The President of the United States having intimated to the Government of Liberia his intention to assist Liberia by appointing military officers for service in the Liberian Frontier Force, I have been directed by His Excellency President Barclay to request the Government of the United States to nominate officers for service in said force. I am further directed to request that Lieutenant B. O. Davis, Military Attache to the American Legation at Monrovia, be detailed for such service as senior officer, if not incompatible with the regulations of the United States Army. I have the honor to request that your excellency will transmit these requests to the State Department at Washington at your earliest convenience. I have [etc.] See the President's message, p. xxiii. F. E. R. JOHNSON. |