STABILITY OF CURRENT POLITICAL REGIME/RELATIONS WITH OTHER WEST AFRICAN COUNTRIES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00926A007600900001-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 8, 2002
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: December 15, 1954
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Rel
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CONFIDENTIAL.
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
COUNTRY Liberia
SUBJECT Stability of Current Political Regime/Relations with
other West African Countries .-
DF THE UNITED STATES. WITHIN THE MEANING OF TITLE 16. SECTIONS 7111
AND 764. OF THE U.S. CODS. AS AMENDED. ITS TRANSMISSION OR WEYI.
LATION OF ITS CONTENTS TO OR RECEIPT BY AN UNAUTHORIZED PERSON IS
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
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REPORT NO.
1. The political situation in Liberia remains stable with President Tubman firmly
entrenched with no real-threat in view. He has complete control of the True
Whig Party although there is some ineffective opposition headed by ex-President
Barclay and David S Coleman. They have no opposition program to offer but make
the usual petty crit c sms voiced by the "outs" against the "ins". Their
opposition is occasioned by their desire to be in office. There is no chance
they will replace Tubman. Barclay, especially, is very unpopular among all
segments of the population.. There is nothing to suggest the possibility of a
successful coup d'etat against the present regime.
2. Outside the True Whig Party, there is no dissident group that can muster enough
strength to be a threat. There is some agitation in the Kru Tribe, but the
leader, Teve, is now a refugee from the country. ~}QQ a is also some agitation
in the Gre io Tribe, stirred up by W S Brownell,/A t 'cey General.. In both
instances it is based on independence for t e tribes, which the agitators feel
would enhance their personal prestige.
3. President Tubman's principal confidants to whom he turns for advice are; Richard
Henries, Speaker of the House; ex-President C D B Kier and vice-President
Tolbert.
1. Liberia's relations With other countries first recognizes the US as their protector
and best friend. Beyond that, President Tubman has said Liberia stands in favor
of the national aspirations of peoples governed by other countries. He feels .
Liberia can help most by lending moral support and serving as an example of what
can be accomplished by a freed people. He feels Liberia could not-benefit by
an alliance with her neighbors as they have nothing to offer. Liberia would
join a United West Africa only if they could dominate it, for which there seems
to be no possibility.
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This report is for the use within the USA if the Intelligence components of the Departments or
Agencies indicated above. It is not to br transmitted overseas without the concurrence of the
originating office through the Assistant Director of the Office of Collection.., and Dissemination, CIA.
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5. In line with the policy of supporting national aspirations, they maintain
friendly relations with champions of freedom, such as Nkru_h and Azikiwe.
They would support any action by the Arab-Asian block that did not conflict
with the interests of the US,
Relations with her neighbors are friendly. There have been some arguments
with the French over customs but they are minor in character.
CONFIDENT
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