PROBLEMS CONCERNING THE WELFARE OF THE PEOPLE 207 
opportunity to construct their huts for themselves, or are housed in those 
model villages with sanitary kitchens and latrines which the company has al- 
ready constructed. They are furnished with proper food at cost and any medical 
attention or treatment that they may need. Naturally, many of the natives in 
the vicinity have flocked to the Firestone plantations to avail themselves of the 
improved opportunities that they offer. The result is that some of the govern- 
ment officials have recently complained of the difficulty in obtaining free labor 
for government work in some of the districts where the people have learned of 
the opportunities offered by the plantations company. During the year 1928 
the Firestone Plantations Company expended alone in wages for laborers in 
Liberia the sum of $1,024,050.00.! 
Through the assistance which, in many ways, Mr. Firestone has recently 
extended to Liberia, the country can now look forward to general improvement. 
The present time, therefore, seems opportune to those interested in the welfare 
and development of Liberia, as well as in the welfare of mankind in general, for a 
eareful consideration of the important question of the relationship between the 
governing people and the indigenous tribes. 
Ex-President Coolidge during his administration said that as time goes on the 
spirit of mankind is more and more demanding that government and society be 
conducted under the laws of truth. When discussing with him conditions in 
Liberia during the period of his administration, and also when conferring with 
Secretary of State Kellogg and Assistant Secretary of State Castle on the sub- 
ject, the writer was impressed with the fact that both the President and our State 
Department were much concerned to seek ways and means the most efficient, to 
improve the existing conditions in Liberia, and to extend all possible friendly 
assistance to the country. Under the terms of the new Liberian Government 
loan, and by the appointment of an efficient American personnel to the positions 
authorized by it, it became possible recently to render further American assist- 
ance to the country. 
The truth about the conditions which prevail in the interior must sooner or 
later become generally known. Liberia is a member of the League of Nations, 
and for some time it has seemed obvious that an investigation would be requested 
by that body, of certain Liberian affairs. The quiet insistence of our State 
Department has finally brought this to a realization. Since the writing of this 
Report, Washington has announced that the United States will soon join with 
the League of Nations in investigating the ‘‘slavery”’ situation. Our Govern- 
ment several weeks ago sent to Liberia Mr. Henry Carter of the Western Euro- 
pean Division of our State Department, as Chargé d’ Affaires at Monrovia, with 
general authority to supervise the investigation for this Government. The Com- 
mission of Inquiry into the charges that slavery exists in Liberia or that forced 
labor conditions exist there, is to consist of three members, — the Liberian 
Government selecting one, the United States a second, and the League of Nations 
a third. As the American member, the State Department has appointed 
Dr. Charles 8. Johnson, a negro Professor of Social Science at Fisk University. 
1 Message of President King to the Liberian Congress, 1929. 
