The_Open_Door_deel1

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company's main interest is no longer in Liberia as in the same
year (1977) investments in the Cocopa-plantation only amounted to
an estimated $ 3.5 million (book value).
Contributions to the Government of Liberia
The Liberia Company commenced its planting activities in 1950,
following the signing of the Indenture of Lease (August 1950) with
the Government of Liberia. The place selected for the development
of a cocoa and coffee plantation was far in the interior of the
country, between Ganta and Saclepea, and in those days hardly
accessible by road.
The planting activities apparently made little progress during the
first few years. This can be explained by the inaccessibility and
isolation of the area. By 1954 only a total of $ 300,000 had been
invested. Yearly investments in the rest of the decade amounted to
approximately $ 225,000 (12), though new plantings of cocoa and
coffee stopped as of 1955. In 1956 the company abandoned coffee
cultivation and commenced rubber planting. Ten years later the
cocoa shared the fate of the coffee cultivation and from then on
the company concentrated on the production of rubber. According
to the Liberia Company's General Manager in Monrovia, Cor Sinke,
there were two main reasons for the termination of cocoa and coffee
growing: first, the feasibility studies on which the company
had based its original plans had proved to be too optimistic, and
secondly, the company could not cope with the increasing rate of
theft of the plantation's produce.
The slow start and negative result of the development of a cash
crop other than rubber irritated the Liberian authorities who had
expected to share in a successful venture. President William
Tubman's disappointment and loss of patience is clearly visible in
the letter he wrote to the Financial and Economic Advisor, nearly
nine years after the signing of £he 1947 Statement of Understanding,
on April 20, 1956: *-"
"/ have the feeling that the Liberia Company is exploiting
the generosity of the Liberian Government and has
contributed nothing to her, Uhat I mean is that Company
has been in operation for Seven or eight years now and
has contributed absolutely not one penny to the resources
of the country, On the other hand, it has been permitted
to bring into the country free of duty for a long time
machinery, other goods, wares and marchandise..
The representatives of the Liberia Company who are also
the representativ es of the. Pan American Airways seem to
be pursuing the same course,
Ue pay fifty percent of the operational expenses of
Robentsfield and I do not believe they have made any
reports of the. intake or revenues accruing from the
operation of that airfield to Government for the past two
years. They promised, as far as I re.colle.ct, to build a
hotel or guest houses up there; I douLt if they have laid