Liberia: Description, History, ProblemsStarr, Frederick
History
Liberia: Description, History, Problems
Starr, Frederick
Liberia
effect in the same way as they have recently been assisting in the work
of re-organizing the Liberian Customs. They will further be happy to
suspend pressing the monetary and other claims which they have against
Liberia, and will endeavor to come to a settlement, on a mutually
satisfactory basis, on the long outstanding question of the navigation
of the Mano River and the trouble on the Anglo-Liberian Frontier.”
In other words, Great Britain was quite willing to assume the whole
running of Liberian affairs; she would be glad to manage her financial
matters, to train and handle her frontier force, to collect her customs
duties, and manage them, to interfere with, and control her government
completely. She hinted at what she might do if these reforms were not
carried into effect; she ended with a querulous complaint regarding
advantages which German shipping was said to be securing to the
disadvantage of British interests. This truly extraordinary document was
signed in the following highly dignified fashion:
I have the honor to be,
with great truth and regard
Sir,
Your Excellency’s
most obedient,
humble servant,
BRAITHWAIT WALLIS,
HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY’S CONSUL.
One of the cries of the present day internationalism is “effective
occupation”. It is only as a country demonstrates itself able to
protect its borders, and to maintain peace within its limits, that it is
admitted to justly hold its territory; there are some strange features
involved in the expression, but it has a just foundation and is at
present generally accepted. It is true, if Liberia is to be recognized
as an independent nation, she must guard her borders, must prevent her
people from troubling their neighbors, must protect life and property
within her area. There is a stipulation in the French treaty of 1907 in
regard to this matter; if Liberia cannot maintain a frontier force to
protect her boundary, the French claim the right to place their own
forces on Liberian territory for that purpose; the English, in their
demanded reforms, insist upon an adequate and well trained police force
upon the frontier; the demands are not unjust and must be met. In fact,
the frontier force is one of the urgent and crying needs of Liberia.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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