The Drawing of Liberian Boundaries in the Nineteenth Century: Treaties with African Chiefs versus Effective Occupation

Abstract

Following resolutions of Berlin Conference of 1884-85, principle of effective control became one of major criteria in proving possession of African territory by European powers. The adoption of this principle and of other resolutions of conference was prompted by European powers' wish to minimize danger of conflicts which might arise between them over occupation of territories in Africa. The impact of Berlin Conference resolutions on process of scramble for Africa has been dealt with by other scholars.1 The present paper is intended to examine principle of effective control in context of relationships between Liberia, an independent black republic on coast of West Africa, and her colonial neighbors, and how application of that principle affected delimitation of Liberia's boundaries in coastal area in last decades of nineteenth century. The beginnings of Liberian republic can be traced to arrival of black ex-slaves from U.S. on coast of West Africa. Their emigration, which began in 1822, was carried out under auspices of American Society for Colonizing of Free People of Color in U.S. (American Colonization Society, or ACS). These blacks, who came to be known as Americo-Liberians, established a colony, and in 1847 an independent republic, but maintained very close ties with ACS even after gaining independence. The first immigrants set as their objective spreading of Christianity and Western civilization among indigenous Africans in Liberia. As most of immigrants came from U.S., they based their constitution on pattern of American constitution and considered themselves, politically and culturally, part of what was then called the world. That civilized world recognized Liberia as an independent, sovereign republic, and some of its most prominent members, such as France, Britain, Imperial Germany and U.S., maintained regular diplomatic relations and signed various agreements of friendship and trade with black republic. The initiators of idea of black settlement in West Africa and first settlers did not give much thought to question of colony's boundaries. They envisaged settlement of blacks on coast of West Africa, a settlement which would eventually lead to regeneration of entire continent. No boundaries were fixed for area of black settlement that would spread Western civilization and Christianity