The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1914-09-25
new MOVEMENT
To AID LIBERIA
Little West African Republic
Desires Our Cooperation.
aim OF The ORGANIZATION.

Lyon, Who Now Represents the Ii.
! berian Government In the United
States, Says Trade Relations With
~ Africa Would Benefit Our People.
By FRANKLIN F. JOHNSON.
Baltimore. - Plans for big inter
national organization to aid in the
development of Liberian trade rela-
tons with this country and the re-
sources of the little West African re-
public are dnder way. The projected
body will be known as the Liberian-
American Emigration and Colonization
society. and it's membership will in
clude prominent people in Liberia, the
United States, the West Indies, Cen
tral and South America. Headquar-
ters will be maintained In this city.
The contemplated body has the in
dorsement of prominent Liberians,
who express themselves as being very
desirous that Americans manifest a
deeper interest In their country. The
perfection Of plans for the proposed
organization will largely devolve upon
DR.. Ernest Lyon. the Lberian consul
general to the United States.
He served seven years as American
minister to the little West African re-
public, and there is probably not
man in America who has better
knowledge Of Liberian needs and con.
ditions than he. 1t was largely
through his efforts and also through
his initiative that an American COM
mission was sent to Liberia in 1908.
gether with first hand information fur
nished by DR.. Lyon, awakened the in
terest and sympathy of the United
States government, and as a result
Liberia was enabled to borrow 81, ,7OO.-
600 and an American. Reed Paige
sufficient customs to guarantee the in
terest and sinking fund on the loan.
The trade of Liberia is with Euro
pean nations, Germany enjoying
monopoly. This trade has been de-
stroyed since the outbreak of the pres
ent European conflict. The loss Of
this trade, both import and export,
has been distressing to the country.
The banking interests there are con-
trolled by Europeans, and one Of the
largest, hitherto controlled by English
capital, recently passed into German
control.
Liberians are beginning to regard
America as their friend, and this in
terest has been heightened since the
recent visit to this country of Hon.
John Lewis Norris, secretary of the
treasury for the former country. In
speaking Of the proposed organization
Consul General Lyon declared that 1t
would mean the welding together of
colored Americans and the people of
that country and the beginning Of deep
foreign interests for the men and wo-
men of the race in this country. =
Liberia needs our products" he
said, land especially so since the Euro
pean war has stifed it's sources Of
imports and crippled its export trade.
Liberia exports ivory, palm nuts, rub
ber, mahogany and other products that
would find ready market in the Unit
ed States. A big international organ
ization in which men and women Of
the race are interested could aid ma
terially in bringing about the desired
aim.
Liberia needs some of our strongest
and most capable young men and wo-
men. 1t also needs the cooperation
and sympathy of Americans. 1t af-
fords fine opportunity for colored
Americans to take part in developing
its trade and resources.
"If colored Americans seize the op-
portunity as they should there would
be no reason why vessels should not
be running direct from New York.
Baltimore or New Orleans to Libe-
ria. The headquarters will be in Bal
timore. where the movement for the
adjustment Of that country began.
Congress and the legislatures OF Mary
land and Virginia will he asked to
make appropriations"
Dr. Lyon has already received assur-
ances from prominent persons that
they would aid in any movement look
ing to closer financial and trade rela-
tions between the two countries.