Noyes to By the President: Wm. M. Evarts, March 26, 1880

No. 230. Mr. Noyes to Mr. Evarts.

Sir: Referring to State Department confidential dispatch No. 163, of date July 17, 1879, and my answer thereto, No. 256, dated August 20, 1879, and subsequent State Department dispatch No. 201, of date January 26, 1880, with inclosures, I beg leave to reaffirm all I said in my communication of August 20, 1879.

I have made careful inquiry, of the only persons connected with the French Government in a position to know the facts, and find that there is absolutely nothing in the reports which have gained currency, as to the French protectorate over Liberia. No proposition has been received from any responsible source, and none has been made by the French Government to that of Liberia.

I feel great confidence in saying that no such project would be favorably considered by the French minister for foreign affairs or the cabinet, even if it were suggested by competent authority.

I have, &c.,