Messersmith, G.S., Berlin. Despatch No. 1329 to Secretary of State [Cordell Hull], Washington.
Date
1933-05-23
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Delaware Library, Museums and Press
Abstract
Description
Continued tendency of organizations of National Socialist Party to exercise control over private business; forcing Jews off boards of directors and out of management; government taking steps toward removing from business firms "Komissari" who had been placed there by local Party leaders without authorization; effort now being made to place Party men in supervisory or managerial position in many firms; German-Atlantic Cable Company, whose capital stock is almost entirely German owned, recently informed by postal authorities that Jews in managerial or supervisory positions must resign and be replaced by National Socialist-minded persons; Consulate General asked to intervene, but since Company not American owned could not do so; unofficially Consulate advised that no law prohibits Jews in such positions and company might try resisting the order; an American company made loan of six million dollars to a German holding company and to guarantee loan, German company deposited a part of the capital stock; competitors of the German company now charging that there are Jews in the organization; company proposed taking into the business as comanager or director a prominent National Socialist and voting power of majority of stock be placed in his hands; Messersmith advised lawyers for both German company and American lender that it would be unwise to place such voting power in hands of Party man; has been suggested to American owned companies that they deposit 54 percent of stock with Gold-Discount Bank or Reichsbank, giving bank the voting power of the stock; Messersmith advised against it.
Keywords
Messersmith, George S. (George Strausser), 1883-1960.