The_Open_Door_deel1

j -41-
:j
% One of the recommendations of the Committee of the League of
si Nations, presented in its final report was:
:! "(...) the abandonment of the policy of "closed door"
ii in favour of the. "open door" to the Uestern nations,
| (...)" (139).
| Another Committee of the League of Nations, appointed to study
:| the problem raised by the Liberian Government's request for
i Assistances made the same recommendation (see also Chapter 10)
I (HO).
% :• Indeed, during the Administration of President Edwin Barclay
! (1930 - 1944) the Door was set ajar. Immediately after having
j been inaugurated as King's successor, Barclay repealed the
i famous Ports of Entry Law of 1864 as well as the Transportation
I Act, which both restricted the economic activities of foreigni
ers in the Republic. After having been duly elected, in 1831,
i President Edwin Barclay, a nephew of former President Arthur
Barclay, stated in his First Inaugural Address (January 1932):
| "(.,.) Ue shall encourage the investment of reproductive
J foreign capital and shall it accord such facilities that
j while the investor may be satisfied, the economic status
i of our people will be at the same time be improved (...)
i (141).
i
i His following statement is equally worth mentioning. Whereas
I he agreed with his uncle, former President Arthur Barclay, on
i the necessity of the utilisation of foreign investments in
J the development of Liberia's resources (as Secretary of State
', Edwin Barclay had been one of the chief negotiators with Harvey
j Firestone) he had a different view on the relations with the
I tribal people:
•; "(...) Closely connected with the matter of foreign
j investment is the question of internal stability, Tor
i the full and effective employm&nt of capital internal
' peace and tranquility are conditions precedent. (