Correspondence Between President Harry S. Truman and Secretary of Defense Robert Lovett, with Attachments

Lootraj SECURITY INFORMATION THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE WASHINGTON 30 DEC 1 1952 Dear Mr. President: I refer to your memorandum dated 9 August 1952 concerning the recommendations made by Edward R. Dudley, U.S. Ambassador to Liberia, with respect to Roberts Field, Liberia. Roberts Field is presently maintained and operated under a United States Air Force contract with Pan American World Airways. The contract is administered by the Military Air Transport Service. This contract expired on 30 June 1952 but has been extended on a bimonthly basis. The Fiscal Year 1952 contract for Roberts Field involved an expenditure of $280,000, and the Fiscal Year 1953 con- tract would require $371,000 as a result of additional maintenance costs. Repairs to the runway intersection will require expenditure of an additional $211,000 in Fiscal Year 1953. In addition, the over-all condition of the runways is such that an expenditure in excess of $1,000,000 will have to be made at an early date if the runways are to be kept in safe operating condition. The Department of Defense presently does not have operational requirements which are of sufficient importance to justify the large expenditures involved in maintaining Roberts Field in operational condition. This Department does recognize, however, that there are large overriding economic considerations which might justify the expenditure of United States Government funds for its maintenance. This problem has been discussed with officials of the Department of State who have indicated that political considerations make it highly desirable that Roberts Field continue under United States operation. It is understood that the Department of State, which has the primary interest in the continued operation of this base, is attempting to obtain funds from other than the Department of Defense sources for operation of Roberts Field subsequent to Fiscal Year 1953. The Pan American World Airways has indicated a desire to construct a $350,000 terminal building and hotel at Roberts Field if assured a long-term United States operation of Roberts Field. However, Pan American World Airways is unwilling to share in the cost of the maintenance and operation of Roberts Field. DECLASSIFIED N. o. 12065 SEC. III STATE LTR. 6-12-79 NAKS, Date 42377 SECURITY INFORMATION TS-0901