page_title: Edwin Barclay
section_title: Defense Pact with the United States (1942)
hierarchical_section_title: Edwin Barclay / Presidency (1930-44) / World War II / Defense Pact with the United States (1942)
caption_attribution_description: English: w:Edwin Barclay, President of the Republic of Liberia, when he visited Fort Belvoir, Virginia, on May 29, 1943.
context_page_description: Edwin James Barclay was a Liberian politician. A member of the True Whig political party, which dominated the political governance of the country for decades, Barclay served as the 18th President of the country from 1930 until 1944. Under his leadership, Liberia was an ally of the United States during World War II.
context_section_description: In 1942 Liberia signed a Defense Pact with the United States. This commenced a period of strategic development, including the construction of roads, airports and other infrastructure projects. Robertsfield Airport was built with runways long enough for B-47 Stratojet bombers to land for refueling, giving Liberia the longest runway in Africa to this day.
caption: Barclay visiting the United States at Fort Belvoir
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