I don’t know much about Liberia other than it being settled by some freed American slaves, but I found more relevant info on wikipedia.
Quote from wiki page,
“In World War II, Liberia signed a Defence Pact with the U.S. in 1942, and assured the Americans and their allies of all the supply of natural rubber (a strategic commodity in wartime) that they needed. It also allowed the U.S. to use its territory for military bases, and as a bridgehead for American transports of soldiers and war supplies”
wiki’s source:
William R. Stanley Trans-South Atlantic air link in World War II
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2FBF00806430
interesting quote from the abstract,
“A few existing and numerous newly constructed airfields between Liberia and Khartoum served as the emergency landing, refueling, maintenance and housing sites … American-supplied warplanes played an important role in the pivotal Egyptian battle of El-Alemain in October, 1942.”
Might be worth making it US territory for game purposes, though I don’t see how it would have the strategic relevance that it may have had during the real war since French West Africa works better as an entry point to Africa already.
Maybe Liberia ought to be added as a territory requirement to the NO for controlling Mexico, SE Mexico, Central America, and West Indies to reflect the importance of rubber.