Messersmith, G.S.
Date
2011-06-15
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Delaware Library, Museums and Press
Abstract
Description
Relates activities at Curaçao during World War I; Curaçao the crossroads of Caribbean; has excellent harbor and serves as way station to and from ports in Colombia and Venezuela; German firms had control of export-import trade in those countries and on outbreak of war British issued regulations against trade with Germany and blacklisted German firms, but had difficulty enforcing them because identification marks on bags, bales, or boxes were changed while goods were in warehouses in Curaçao waiting reshipment; was able to learn marks of all blacklisted firms and stationed informer at dock to watch cargo of every incoming ship; and at end of each day secured complete record of cargo which had arrived by each ship, with identification marks and quantity and warehouse in which goods were placed; on entry of U.S. into war, U.S. issued regulations similar to British; paid call on heads of firms in Curaçao and told them practice of shipping goods of enemy interests had to stop or their firms would be blacklisted also; showed them record; kept careful check of incoming and outgoing vessels, and did not have to place a single Curaçao firm on blacklist.
Keywords
Messersmith, George S. (George Strausser), 1883-1960.