Messersmith, G.S.
Date
2011-06-15
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Delaware Library, Museums and Press
Abstract
Description
Relates experiences with Secret Service; Curaçao being crossroads of trade, it became favorite rendezvous for secret agents of allied as well as enemy intelligence service; most U.S. intelligence agents had little direct contact with diplomatic or consular officers, but on occasions the contact was close and sometimes interesting; recalls one individual who arrived in Curaçao; saw him frequently, but he seemed to want to avoid any contact with consulate or other Americans in the place; began to get inquiries about him, and then reports that an American secret service agent was asking all sorts of questions, but wanted his identity kept secret; he eventually appeared at consulate and said he was a U.S. intelligence officer who had been sent to Curaçao for purpose of reporting on enemy firms and enemy trade; he showed long list of firms concerning which he had cabled adverse reports to Washington; knew his information was not correct, but would have the effect of placing most of leading firms of Curaçao on blacklist; immediately dispatched cablegram to Government suggesting his recall; following day he was ordered to return to U.S.; took weeks to undo mischief he had caused; another member of U.S. Secret Service coming to Curacao was the brother of a famous opera singer, apparently his sole recommendation; in time was able to convince Washington the man was a lunatic and it was a relief to get him on boat leaving for U.S.; U.S. not the only country to have strange characters among her intelligence agents; a man calling himself Duca de Montefiore arrived in Curaçao and settled at the American Hotel; he apparently had unlimited funds; he called at Consulate one day and introduced himself; his English was fluent, but with an Italian accent; when he occasionally groped for a word, however, he used a German rather than an Italian word; he stated he was on special mission for his Government; became convinced he was not what he appeared to be and managed to evade his questions; confided suspicions to Washington and learned immediately the Italian Mission there had no information regarding him; inquiries in Rome brought information several weeks later that passport had been issued to Duca de Montefiori but that he had died shortly after passport was issued; no doubt about his being German agent and receiving funds through German legation in Caracas; when he was discredited and no longer useful to Germans, funds stopped coming and he was shortly in want; thought he would be less dangerous if kept bottled up in Curaçao, and using consular influence was able to insure that no ship would give him passage.
Keywords
Messersmith, George S. (George Strausser), 1883-1960.