The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1921-07-24
u. S. INFLUENCE
IN DARK LAND
Liberia in Straits Asks
Millions From Uncle
Sam
By HARRY l.. ROGERS

i'N lIaNiNiN L. lNv'HistNN
WASHINGTON, July 23-Thc
state department having made It's
rocomuVn11tious. tho application OF
Idhcrt for a f5,oo9o0O loan II now
before compress fpr final decision.
whether the United states is to CON
'inu" as the dominant foreign infln-
enre In the African republic or ~
'o resign that place 20 Great Britain
probably depends upon the attitude
taken hv congress
Reports horo Indicate that British
interests, which nowfrrac,ically CON
troll Industry I'm Liberia. are ready
10 advance credits and thcre IL also
some indication that French capital
lists would welcome an opportunity
10 come 20 the assistance OF the
black republic.
Despite the fact that Liberia is
perhaps richest in natural resources
ot all the countries on the west coast
of Africa, the 1lbcrinu government
il practically bankrupt and must
have further outside assistance in
tho immediate future. As far back
as 1871 tho little republic was for,od
90 sock foreign loans, and it was
British capital which responded
Conditions had become 20 unfa -
vorabl" TN 1908 that I'm response to
an invitation from Liberia an Amer
lean commission was sent 20 invcs'i
gate the conclusions of tho commits
sion resulting I'm new loan agree
mont under which an international
recclvcrship was formed with the
general rcccivership reserved to trt
United states. and Great Britain.
France and Germany participating
British In Control.
After Liberia entered the war tho
German receiver was expelled. the
German cable and radio stations. rs
we'll as German private property. be
Ing LEFT in tho hands OF tho Amori-
can rccoivcr general as allen proper
" custodian. During tho war the
economic condition Of the black re-
public became very acute. The peo-
pie were on the verge OF starvation
and the government was forced TO
enter into nm agreement for n loan
from the bank Of British West Afri-
ca Limited. an English concern
which practically controls tho bank
ing situation in Liberia, just as the
Elder Dempstcr company a British
steamship line, practically controls
the transportation facilities Of the
republic.
u. :. Disposed TavorabIy.
Early IN 1918 Liberia made an ap-
peal TO the secretary Of tho treas
ury Of tho United states for n loan
Of 100000 a commission headed
by Charles Dunbar BURGESS King
president Of Liberia. came TO wash
inEtOn recently TO nogO,ia.a the loan.
on April - President King was re-
ccived by President Harding and
from time to time members Of the
commission have been in conference
with officials of the treasury and
state departments
While there has hcen no official
announcement as to the recommen.
dation made by Secretary Hughe,
on tho advisibillty OF the loan. th'
traditional policy Of tho United
/ states towards Liberia would eiR.
gest favorable consideration. The
original colony on tho west coast OF
Africa was founded under the auspi-
COS Of President Monroe. and in 1898
the United States intervened when
tho little colony entered into Gus
toms dispute with the British colony
Of Sierre Drona.
Defining the American attitude
toward Liberia. Daniel Webster said
in 1913; without having passc 4
laws for recognition. tho United
States takes n deep interest in the
welfare Of the people OF Liberia and
is disposed to extend a fun degree
OF countenance ana protection"