The Washington herald., 1908-05-25
LIBERIA SEEKS MEN.
Officials of African Nation
Tell of Resources.
PURPOSE OF VISIT TO AMERICA
Vice President DOssen Says His PeO-
pie Want Closer Political and
Commercial Relations with United
States-Whites Only Tolerated in
His Land-Can Hold No office.

To establish closer commercial and po-
litical relations between Liberia and the
United States is the purpose Of the visit
OF delegation Of prominent Liberian
statesmen who arrived in this city Friday
and who called upon Secretary Root at
the State Department on Saturday.
The delegation consists Of Garretson w.
Gibson. formerly president OF Liberia:
James Dossen. vice president of Liberia;
Charles B. Dunbar. an attorney; T. J.
Faulkner. and Charles Branch, all of
whom are negroes and citizens OF the
African republic. They are registered at
the Arlington Hotel, and are accompanied
by Charles Hall Adams, of Boston. con-
sui general of Liberia In this country.
and Gen A. L. Bessler, OF New York, the
latter two white men. The distinguished
foreign colored statesmen occupy a pre-
tentious suite Of rooms on the third floor
Of the Arlington. where they receive call
ers. hold conferences, and take their
meals.
Would Strengthen Relations.
Mr.. Dossen, the present vice president
Of Liberia. said yesterday that the dele
gation had not called on Secretary Root
for the purpose of enlisting the assistance
OF the United States in boundary disputes
between Liberia and European colonies
bordering on their country. as variously
reported. but that they had come 70 see
IL 1t was possible to establish more init
mate relations between the United States
and Liberia
Mr.. Dossen is a native Liberian and a
full-bloOded negro. highly educated in the
schools OF his country, and speaks the
English language with a slight foreign
accent.
I'VE want TO see II It is possible TO
establish more intimate commercial and
political relations between America and
Liberia" he said. Our import trade
from America Is considerable. but II
comes TO US mostly in German and Eng
lish ships. II would be OF benefit 10
America and Liberia II direct steamship
communications between the two coun-
tries could be established. Your export
trade TO our country would grow. and
Liberia would act as a sort of commercial
agent for American wares and goods In
Africa.
Immigrants Wanted.
There are about 1900 civilized and
educated inhabitants in Liberia and about
100000 send-civilized people. Our coun-
try is rich in natural resources. and we
would Ike 10 have desirable American
negroes emigrate 10 Liberia and settle
there We don't want shiftess people;
we have no use for them. A negro can
! become a citizen Of liberia. can own
property can vote and be elected TO pub
lie Offices. 1t is a colored mans country.
White people may settle down In Liberia
and do business. but they can never be-
come citizens. They cannot hold prop
erty; they are practically merely tOler-
ated. The provision in our constitution
excluding the white man from Liberia is
not of our making. The American Coloni-
zation Society In the United States. which
founded Liberia, is responsible for 1t.
I'VE have a militia. the same as you
have Only negroes are permitted 10 Join
its colors and its officers are all negroes.
"Our boundary relations with our
French and English neighbors have been
settled years ago. and there is absolutely
no truth In the report that we came here
10 ask the United States to protect us
against the encroachments on Liberia OF
foreign nations.
Primarily Agricultural.
Liberia Is primarily an agricultural
country but II also has gold deposits,
and, in fact. every known metal is found
there. Even diamonds have been found in
my country. Rubber is also one OF our
stable articles Of export. But there is a
wealth Of mahogany 70 be found in Ii
beria, and K Is our particular desire 10
call fha worlds attention IN otr r1agnff-
cent mahogany timber lands.
We have no trouble with our rubber
forests and no connection in any shape
or form with the Congo rubber forests,
which are 1000 miles from Liberia.
Il find the United States Of America a
fine country. The people Of my own race
in Washington seem to be very success
ful. and I understand that quite a number
Of them occupy responsible positions in
public life.
''Our stay in this country depends alto
gether on the success we shall have in
our mission"