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Show CLIMAX HAS BEEN REACHED IN THE LIBERIAN SITUATION British Gunboat Has Been Dispatched Dis-patched to Afford Protection to Foreign Interests. Americans Amer-icans Interested. Washington. Cable advices received re-ceived at the state department indicate indi-cate that a climax has been reached' in the Liberian situation. Conditions, according to the information at hand, are grave, and great alarm is felt by foreign officials in Liberia. A British gunboat has arrived to afford protection protec-tion to foreign interests, and a company com-pany of soldiers has been sent from Sierra Leon to the capital at Monrovia Mon-rovia for the same purpose. Apparently Appar-ently great despondency is entertained enter-tained as to the ability of the government govern-ment to maintain itself and as to the future of Liberia as a nation. Friday's cables called renewed attention at-tention to the efforts of the state department, de-partment, inaugurated by Secretary Root, to secure an appropriation of $20,000 to enable the president to send to Liberia a commission, with a view to reporting as to the specific action this government should take to afford relief. Curiously enough, it was President Lincoln who approved in 1862 a treaty with Liberia, whereby its recognition! rec-ognition! as an independent state was given, and it was President Lincoln also who appointed the first diplomatic diplo-matic representative of the United States there. From time to time since the United States has intervened in boundary disputes, making it clear that this government was most anxious to befriend be-friend Liberia and have it continue as a nation. |