The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-12-30
FRANCE IND LIBERIA
0RuIsER Ko1TaoxIRYyMIssIog

Probably Sent to Liberia to Ascer-
tain the Extent Of French Aetivaty,
II Deias Charged That France h
Enersashaas On black Republic.
London. Dec. 30.-It has been learned
by press representative that the Uni-
ted States cruiser Montgomery's visit
to Liberia h apparently the result Of
Oyertures made to Warrington by that
republic. Though the British govern
Ment is in complete ignorance Of the
purpose Of the MontsomsrxN nission.
the estsblisARssks1 "A eoafng station
IN ItibeFia ~ fAe United States is re-
i fafdod - scarcely pOasibl9 -
asserted, no Liberian port has any n-
cilities for coaling. all Of them being
open and SURROUND.
The press representative learns, how
ever, that far more important step
is under consideration. 1t consists IN
a joint request Of the United states ana
Great Britain upon France to denne
the boundary between the territory
she claims and that claimed by Libe-
ria, This step IN not yet decided upon,
but Great Britain only awaits the Uni
ted States assert to become party 10
such request.
It Is alleged that France for many
years has been encroaehing on-Li-
IBERIA, and it was only by the strsnu-
GUS protest of the United States that
she was prevented from appropriating
o large slice of Liberia in 1882.
According to the Hon. Arthur Pom
sonby, managing director Of the Libe-
rian rubber syndicate, which recently
guaranteed the interest OF Liberals
public debt, the Montsomery's visit Is
| probably prompted by desire to ascer-
| tain the extent of French activity. Mr.
Ponsonby said to a press representative:
Bishop Hartzell, while In Monrovia
this year, strongly urged the govern
ment to interest the United States IN
| preserving the boundaries, with the re-
suit that Liberia appointed mission
TO Washington. l believe 1t has al
ready made representations, and pre-
sumo the commander of the Montgom-
cry investigated both this and the pos
sibility of coaling station. The lat
ter Liberia would gladly lease to the
United States, but beyond hoisttng her
flag upon 1t It would be Of little SER
vice.
1.-THE feeling among British subjects
commercially interested in Liberia Ia
that the republics progress had bet
ter be under the protection OF either
Great Britain or the United States
But both the British government and
those having interests there believe
that so long as Liberia can continue to
struggle on in her present condition
everything possible should be done tc
support her.
Liberia decorated Mr.. Ponsonby this
week with the order of African Re
demption in recognition Of his services
against encroachments.
OUR OFFICIALS RETICENT.
Liberians Anxious That Our conlinp
station Should BE Kent Up.
Washington, Dec. 30--Although thu
naval officials will make no oficia
statement respecting the cruise of thu
Montgomery to West Africa, 1t Is ad
mitted that the ship was there in tn
early fall, returning to her station a
Buenos Ayres about the first OF las
November. These dates in themselve
may be regarded as sufficient to dis
mel the impression that the cruise Wa
in any manner connected with the wa
between the British and the Beers. A
to the real objects of the cruise, 1t
believed that the navy department ha
its eye upon possible coalins static
on the west coast, as Ia indicated In tn
foregoing dispatch. Before and durin
the civil war the United States had n
less than three coaling stations on tina
coast. They we're practically abandon
ed when the West African station wa
dropped from the list, but the chief
the equipment bureau, Admiral Brad
ford, has strongly urged that they b
re-established, so as to ensure on
naval vessels source of coal suppl
when passing from the Eastern Altar
tic states around to the Philippine
and China, in the event that the SUI
> canal should be closed against then
The Liberian government always hi
been willing and even anxious that II
= station on it's coast should be kept u
IL only as manifestation of the int
est Of the United States in the color
:, it created and to protect 1t by OF
=. moral influence against European a
;, erosion. The British conception
), the object of the Montgomery's Wis
y to Africa, therefore, may be entire
J. within the line Of probability.