Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-07-05

ton in Liberia, though there is a total
population of some 2.vOG0, made UP
chiefly of bush people. or savages. Fifty
different dialects are spoken by them.
Only a negro can become a citizen; only
a citizen can own property. and only a
property owner ear exercise the francflis
The 2boDp retain the governing control of
the country. a few descendants of oriSi-
MAJ natives also have gained citizenship.
Liberia has coast line of some 800
miles. and its boundaries run back into
the timbered hills about POO miles. The
British colony of Sierra Leone and the
French colony of the Ivory coast close
in the country by land these two forming
three sides of its boundary, and the sea
its fourth. Germany, too. mas stake IN
the country, since the greater portion of
the trade is in German hands.
Rich in natural resources and with Won
derful possibilities of development. all of
West Africa mas attracted the attention
of these three powers
II was but natural that Liberia should
become involved in the varying desires. of
the three Boundary disputes arose from
time to time. inter tribal wars. promoted
no one knows how. on the border gave the
powers excuse for getting their fingers
into Liberian affairs. There was dis
pute with France in 1892 as to boundary,
and this resolved itself into an agreement
in 1907 by which the boundary was sur
veyed and determined. The survey was
completed in 1910. and under il Liberia
found that she was deprived OF some 2.Hnt
square miles of territory which. according
to the record. she was unable to admin
lister.
1t was all perfectly regular. France
had showing to present to the world
that made out good case in her favor
But still, Liberia lost the land.
Then. in 1911, British Sierra Leone took
over the Liberian territory Of hanre.
Lahun in exchange for an undeveloped
territory on the south side of the Moro
river. That. too was quite regular, as
the record shows it.
Then. AT various times, the powers had
made loans to Liberia. which Liberia had
some difficulty in meeting. In 1895; III,
british. in order TO secure payment OF
interest on a loan made to the republic
established a receivership over the I.iber
ian customs. which is the chief source OF
the nations revenue. and practically han.
died the country's finances until 1872
Now. none of these arrangements was
wholly satisfactory to Liberia. She felt
that she persistently was getting the
worst of it in her dealings with the
european nations. Accordingly. in 1870
Liberia sent a commission to the United
States to ask the aid of this country
always her very good friend. in straight
ening out her difficulties.
During the following year an American
commission. headed by DIR. Roland +,
Falkner, went to Liberia and made a
study of conditions. AS a result of the
commission s recommendation in 1911 an
agreement was entered into by which
New York bankers loaned to Liberia ap-
proximately S1.7UoGO for forty years
This was enough to refund all the out
standing foreign loans and to put Liberia
on her feet financially.
II WIS provided in the agreement that
a foreign receivership should be estab-
iishd to collect Liberals customs rev.
enue, her head money revenues and the
rubber tax The heceivership was to con-