The Washington times., 1910-03-25
PRESIDENT URGES
AID FOR LIBERIANS
Sends Special Message to
Congress With Com
missions Report.
CHARGES ARE MADE
AGAINST POWERS
Great Britain, Germany, and
France Said to Have Been
Encroaching.

President Taft transmitted 20 Congress
today a special message ON Liberia in
conjunction with the report Of the COM
mission which visited Africa wear ago.
The message approved the recommen-
dations of the commission to the effect
that the United States come 10 the
rescue Of the republic, which is on the
verge Of dissolution a the result, large
u, Of the agsressions Of France and
Great Britain. on either side through
their colonies.
Secretary of state Knox. In submit
ting the report, states that tentative
negotiations are now under way for
treaty with Liberia which will nut into
effect certain recommendations. These
are:
To Extend Aid.
1. That ;ne United States extend IFS
and to Liberia in the settlement of pend
INK boundary disputes
2 That the United States enable LII
IBERIA TO refund its debt by assuming
as a guarantee for the payment Of obli-
cations under such an arrangement the
controI and collection of the Liberian
customs.
,. That the United States lend fits as
sistance in the reform Of internal
finances.
: That the United states lend its aid
In organizing and drilling an ADEQUATE
constabulary or frontier police force.
.. That the United States establish a
Research station in Liberia
b. nat the nited StatetS reopen the
question OF establishing a naval cOalIng
station an Liberia
Report Favorable.
The commission reports that 1T was
the conviction Of the commission and
their associates that the Liberians had
Influenced the native population BY
which they are surrounded far more
than the natives had Influenced them. In
The presence Of that great mass Of an
civilized people they have maintained A
relatively high degree of civilization. Of
which the well-Ordered home. the main
tenance OF law and order, tine quiet Sun
ua| rest and the wcll-attended houses
OF worship are conspicuous signs"
TIE report gives ar extended account
OF the methods followed hv Great Brit
ain and Franc" in enCToachinC upOn and
SeGinC lAorrian territory under prctcnse
OF proterring aid. 1t also refers to treat
les negotiated at the lannon's mouth
10y which Liberia was forced TO sacrifice
!.eT Interests. II points out that ow-
ing to the interests or Great Britain
tney are not IN position to give dis
interested assistance
Neither can Germany be counted lIpon
10 give assistance without arOlsinE the
suspicion of the two former countries
II Is, therefore. for the United States
alone 20 come to the rescue Of the re-
public.
DlstruSts Powers.
Liberia IS thus confronted nv tho
fact the report says, that she can
not. without serious danger, call to her
aid either Great Britain France. OF Ger
many TWO OF these powers she deepIv
olstrusts and each of them distrusts the
other two. None Of them could guide
and direct the needed reforms in Ii
herian administration without great fric-
ton. which would threaten the outcome
Or the proposed action and leave Ii
than before
The logic Of the situation in the
MINDS or the Liberians points, therefore.
10 the United States as the only conn
Try which can give them effective aid
or an Liberia 8 friends, she alone is
open 10 no suspicious Of Interior designs
upon Liberia and she alone can give as
ISiEances to Great Britain, Germany.
anu France that the legitimate interests /
OF those countries in Liberia, whatever !
lE'} may be. viii not be placed I'm
jeopardy by her actions -