Sir : I have the honor to transmit herewith copy of a communication dated Nov. In conversation the President assured me that the Liberian Government did not wish to take any action towards selecting or appointing delegates until it had been advised definitely by the Department what to do.
After making this reservation, however, the President expressed himself as willing to appoint a mixed commission composed of Americans and Liberians to represent Liberia. Such a commission as he had in mind would have not more than five members nor fewer than three.
But in any case he desired that the Chairman of the commission should be a Liberian and that the majority of the members of the commission should be Liberians. Under these propositions a commission of three or four members would have one American member, and a commission of five members would have two American members. The President also stated that it would be entirely satisfactory to Liberia for the Department to recommend for appointment the American member or members and that the Commission would be instructed to act in complete harmony with the delegates of the United States.
The President went on further to say that the proposals he was advancing were tentative and that he was disposed to await advice from the Department before doing anything.
I asked him what Liberians he thought of appointing if it should develop that the idea of Liberia sending a commission was deemed advisable. He replied that he would probably select the following men: James J. King , Secretary of State, and Edwin J. Barclay , Attorney [Page ] General. I of course could make no expression on this suggestion, and in fact have refrained from making any statement about any phase of this matter.
