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The trend of public expenditures during this period
The data presented in Annex 21 show us that in the 1946 - 1961
period appropriations for "International Relations" increased
twenty-fold, making it the fastest growing expenditure item.
The impressive but costly network of diplomatic missions which
was set up during the 1950's reflects Liberia's post war
abandonment of its internationally isolated position. We have
seen how President Barclay had started this process by inviting
the League of Nations to assist the country. The growth of
government funds in the 195O's enabled President Tubman to spend
substantial amounts on the representation of Liberia abroad,
notably in the newly independent countries of Africa but also
in^countries such as the very first independent black Republic,
Hai'ti, and in Taiiran, Israel, the Vatican, Jamaica etc. By
refusing to open the doors for diplomats from the Eastern
European countries, including Russia, or from the People's
Republic of China, Tubman closely followed the diplomacy of
Western countries which was inspired by the U.S.A.
At times the costs of the Liberian representation abroad reached
levels which were disproportionate to the nation's domestic
needs and priorities. In 1954 the Legislature passed^a law
approving President Tubman's visit to the U.S.A., Haxti, and the
Lebanon and allocating $ 100,000 for this purpose (29). But the
generosity towards Tubman (whether or not for official purposes)
reached sometimes grotesque proportions. In March 1952 the
Lesiglature granted Tubman a three month leave of absence with
paid expenditures in fact, an unlimited amount with a minimum
of $25,000. (30).
In 1956 and 1958 this was repeated. In each of these years the
Legislature legalized the spending of | 100,000 during these 3
months presidential holidays. In I960 even the (rubber-stamp)
Parliament passed a Joint Resolution granting President Tubman
a 3 months rest leave with an unlimited budget at his disposal
(31)- These decisions may well constitute evasions of the
Constitution which stipulates that
"the President shall at stated times receive for his Services
a compensation which shall neither Le increased or
diminished during the period for which he shall have been
elected" (32).
Tubman had been reelected in 1951 and 1955 respectively.
Second in importance in this period, judging from budgetary
appropriations, came "Education". It may be well to note,
however, that the appropriations for the Nine-Year Development
Programme and for the Development Programme under Sponsorship
of the Joint Commission, in 1956 and 1961 respectively, see
Annex 21, will probably have included appropriations related to
education as well as to agriculture, health and infrastructure
and communications . The appropriations for agriculture, for
health or for industrial development (though the last mentioned
expenditure item was not even specified in these four Budgets)