Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1911-10-13
FACTORS IN THE CRISIS
OF THE uBERIAA REPUBLIC
ADDRESS DELIVERED BY GEORGE
w. ELLIS OF CHICAGO BEFORE
THE CONFERENCE ON AFRICA,

w. ELLIS OF CHICAGO BEFORE
THE CONFERENCE ON AFRICA,
We have before us a reprint from
the Journal Of Race Development OF
an address delivered by Mr.. George
W. Ellis of Chicago before the Con-
ference on Africa called by DR.. @. s.
Hall and Prof George H. Blakeslee OF
Clark university. The subject OF Mr..
Ellis address is entitled: Dynamic
Factors In the Liberian Situation.
The address Is significant because
of It's review of the conditions which
led up to and which involved the po-
litical crisis through which the Black
West African Republic passed.
The address opens with brief
recitation of recent European discov-
cries which led to the partition OF
Africa on the part Of certain Euro.
pean and colony holding powers. 1t
Is significant that the Black Republic
Of Liberia ON the west coast and
Abyssinia on the east are the only
two African sections which have not
come under the political sovereign
and Jurisdiction of European nations.
The speaker next describes the popu,
lation of Liberia, which is about
1850, 000-about $4,000 are American.
ICED colored people and the remain.
/, der are aboriginal Africans who are
governed by their civilized kinsmen
across the sea- The territory of LII
IBERIA is mentioned as being healthful,
rich In natural resources. gold and
silver and in varied fora and fau.
ma. One OF the strange things about
conditions in Liberia is that Ameri
can colored people seem to be In
different to the financial opportunities
offered to them by the Liberian re.
public and who seem to take little
or no concern beyond sentimental
interest in the Liberal republic.
Ii is pathetic to read the speak
ers' description of the alarming ma.
ture of social and political conditions
In Liberia which finally moved that
people to appeal 10 the American peo-
pie for aid and assistance In their in
| ternational struggle.
It was very wisely pointed out by
the speaker that Liberia had played
| an important part in the abolition Of
the slave trade, had rendered i'm
| portant and valuable international
services to the nations. and therefore
in this crisis was entitled to the
sympathy of the civilized and liberty
loving world.
The first difficulty with the govern
ment OF Great Britain is succinctly
described, in which it was disclosed
how European traders had been sent
down from Sierre Leon by British
firms with the support and sanction
of the government at Sierre Leon
and later of the British government
at London, with the evident purpose
of violating Liberian revenue laws
and affording the British government
a pretext to rob the Americanized
republic of some Of it's terri tory.
There follows very rapidly Difficult.
/ ties between Liberia and Great Brit.
ain over the territory in which Brit
L 1911 SuUJCClS WcIC tIOuoiV ~
refusing to recognize and obey the
laws of the Liberian state. The gov.
eminent of Great Britain began the
controversy by claiming the Liberian
coast territories from Sherbro Is
lands to the Mafa river in exchan -e
for a few thousand pounds. The con
troversy lasted for moro than TWEEN
ty years. the United States giving tc
Liberia the warmest and most ardent
diplomatic support, championed its
cause With the deepest concern and
zeal. but not to the recognition
of her contentions-avail. Great Brit
ain finally forced the recognition o1
her contentious. Liberia was com
PEELED to yield her northwest territ
DRY, upon the advice of the United
States and under the force and pres
sure of the military and political pow
err of Great Britain.
The speaker then took up the LII
berian difficulty with France. France
| jealous of Great Britain, who had
taken some valuable territory on the
northwest, began at once to plan how
she should take as much from Ii
IBERIA on the southeast. At once
Frenchmen were sent out to- claim
the desired lands and the French gov
eminent notified the powers Of the
new assumption Of sovereignty. The
| United States again protested and
gave Liberia every possible diplomat
ic support; but France, bound to
equal England in the grabbing of Ii
berian land, forced Liberia again to
yield up valuable territory for few
thousand francs.
Great Britain was SO successful in
getting Liberian territory on the
northwest that she was bold enough
to attempt to take additional Liber.
ian territory, after the Anglo-Liberian
boundary on the northwest had been
delimited in 1903. This Mr.. Ellis
terms the "Kaure Lahum Question"
and constituted at the time OF Liber-
ian boundary difficulties with Great
Britain. The taking of this Liberian
section Of territory after the bound.
airy had been fixed is one of the most
pathetic and distressing incidents In
Liberian history.
The rivalry of France continues
and she forces the cession of another
section Of Liberian southwest terri
tory to match the new acquisition
Of Great Britain. The speaker de-
scribes the negotiation of the two
loans secured by Liberia from Grea,
Britain and the severe crisis which
followed the loan Of 1906. which came
| ,ooor arooipo Tihor{o from tho man