Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-19
FULL OF RESOURCES
Natural Wealth of Liberia
Waits Development.
NATIVES LACK ENTERPRISE
Opportunities for Profitable Employ
ment Of Capital.
PR0TECT0RATE IS PROPOSED
Commissions Report on Future At
tftude Of This Country Will Be
Submitted to Congress.
NATIVES LACK ENTERPRISE
PRoTECToRATE IS PROPOSED
By WILLIAM +. CURTIS.


ration of President Taft commission
was sent to Liberia to make an investi-
CATION of conditions there. in response
to- a request from the people of that
country, who are dissatisfied with their
own government, and have been afraid
lest Great Britain, France or Germany
shall gobbIe them up.
A delegation consisting of five of the
most prominent citizens, appointed by
the President of Liberia. brought to
Washington credentials as special en-
voys, with authority to arrange u treaty
between the United States and Liberia,
under which the former government
might extend a protectorate over the
latter, for the purpose of guaranteeing
it's independence and integrity against
the encroachments of European powers.
Under the proposed treaty the United
States would supply the government of
Liberia with efficient officials from the
customs. Treasury, Post Office, educa-
tional. Agricultural and police depart
ments, to reorganize and direct affairs
in that little republic for an indefinite
period. and take charge of the revenues
and supervise the funding of the ma
tional debt which is held in England.
Opposed to Protectorate.
Secretary Knox is not in favor of a
proctectorate, but he thinks that the
United States ought to do whatever we
can to help Liberia, and will recommend
that Congress grant authority to the
President to furnish men to. reorganize
the courts, the police, the finances and
che schools of the black republic, and
to assist in refunding the debt. This
he believes, is the least We can do
toward the fulfillment of our national
obligations.
The Secretary of State explained to
these gentlemen that it would not he
advisable for the United States to as
sumo a protectOrate over an African
government. but promised the good olnces
OF this government to secure guaran-
tees from England. France and Germany,
which was Immediately done.
All three Of those governments gave
assurances that they would not inter-
fere with the independence of Liberia.
but each of them urged the cooperation
of the United States in the reorganiza-
ton of the Liberian government, and
that We furnish officials who would give
an honest administration of the finances.
The British government suggested that
some competent American be appointed
to act as adviser to the President of
Liberia, similar to the residents at
the courts Of the native princes of In4ia.
1t was also suggested that competent
negro lawyers be sent over to act as
judges, because the native judiciary are
so corrupt and incompetent
Similar assurances were obtained from
the other European powers, who took
advantage of the situad lion to thrust upon
the United States the responsibility of
looking after the welfare Of the Liberian
people and the reorganization of their
government.
Report Of Commission.
Before deciding what should be done. a
commission was sent to Liberia about a
year ago to make an investigation, and
their report will be submitted to Congress
by Secretary Knox within a few days.
its report will be submitted to Congress
tons for authority to carry out the sug-
gestions Of the commission, but how far
Congress is willing to go toward the
establishment of protectorate Is doubt
full The prevailing opinion among men,
bers of the Senate who have given the
subject attention Is that it would be mex
pedient for US to assume the responsible
ity alone. and that the wisest plan would
be to arrange to divide the responsibility
with England and France, whose terri
tory adjoins and surrounds the Liberian
republic.
Both those governments are directly
interested in the development Of Liberia
and because their territorial interests are
paramount, they could induce men Of cap
ital to undertake the development OF its
agricultural resources much more easily
than the United States.
There Is not the slightest doubt of the
wealth Of Liberia. There are magnificent
forests of timber practically UNEMPLOYED;
the soil is marvelously fertile, and the
coffee and cocoa grown there is of the
most superior quality. Palm oil, gum
copal. rubber and other tropical staples
can be found in inexhaustive quantities.
Land may be had for the asking without
limit to the acreage. There Is market
In Europe for everything the soil will
produce, but none of the Inhabitants has
the capital to buy tools, or to pay for
the labor that is necessary to redeem the
fields from tropical vegetation. or to
provide the roads that are necessary to
haul the crops to market.
Natives Without Enterprise.
The people are lazy, Indifferent and en-
tirely without enterprise or industry, and
the officials are dishonest the courts are
corrupt. ignorant and debased. and the
legislators are incompetent and subject
to brides. The government and the en-
fire country have been i'm demoralized
condition for years: the financial condi-
tons are deplorable, and unless some
thing is done very soon to arrest the
backward movement the people of Lii
IBERIA will soon relapse into barbarism.
While there is a better reason for ex-
to manage the finances of Santo Domin-
on fha obi Of