AMERICAN NOTE

Southland Times, Issue 21288, 8 January 1931, Page 7

AMERICAN NOTE

SLAVERY IN LIBERIA

GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS INVOLVED z BREAK IN RELATIONS? (United Press Assn.—By Telegraph—Copyright.) (Rcc. 9,50 p.m.) New York, January 7. The Baltimore Sun prints a despatch asserting that the State Department, in a scathing note, recently threatened a possible break in United. States' relations with Liberia unless the latter abolished slavery and took steps to remove the officials responsible therefore, since “international and public opinion would no longer tolerate the twin scourges of slavery and forced labour.” Mr H. L. Stimson, the Secretary of State, in the note, according to the despatch, makes against Liberia the following points:

(1) That it consented to an investigation of slavery with “extreme reluctance.” (2) That "nearly all high Liberia officials, including the Vice-President,” were found guilty. ' (3) That Liberia, despite the "frequent inquiries” of the American Charge d’Affaires, failed to offer definite plans for the removal of slavery. (4) That all “officials whose guilt has been established” continued to hold office. (5) That the “Government of Liberia intimidated witnesses” before the slavery commission, and then “encouraged measures of retaliation against these helpless people.”

A previous message from London stated: The Geneva correspondent of the NewsChronicle says that as a result of the findings of the League’s international inquiry into slavery in Liberia (West Africa) the President of Liberia, Mr C> D. B. King, and the Vice-President, Mr Alan Yancy, have resigned. Mr King nominated the Secretary of State, Mr Edwin Barclay, as acting-President. The commission’s report states that Mr Yancy sanctioned the compulsory recruiting of labour for road construction and shipment abroad. The report condemns the use of the Liberian frontier force for conveying gangs of captured natives to the coast for shipment. It is estimated that 400,000 of a population of 2,500,000 are living in conditions of slavery. Mr King, though unaware of Mr Yancy’s action, considered his own resignation obligatory.