Speech #670329055

I think I can enlighten the Senator. .I believe it is a fact that the United States. through the President. did suggest to Liberia that it would be In her interest. as well as in the interest of the opponeits of the Central Powers. if she would declare war against Germany. and for a reason which addressed itself more particularly to the advantage to be derived by Liberia than to any advantage accruing to the Allies. The Allies were not particularly interested in Liberia declaring war. She is a little Republic. There are few more than 2.000.000 people there. and less than 60.000 of them are civilized. But the Government of the United States has always manifested a sympathetic interest in Liberia. It is a Republic which had its origin in the immigration of American negroes to that country. The United States was interested in that country. Great Britain controlled .the seas.