20 T H E C U B A R E VIEW 



How Consuls Help the Farmer 



The farmer also has an, interest in the maintenance of the consular organization. 

 Through the Department of Agriculture it supplies him with statistics of agricultural 

 production, with crop reports, with statistics of prices of agricultural products. Further- 

 more, the Consul acts as a sort of international policeman in carefully guarding the cattle 

 and other live stock of this country by preventing the shipment to this country of dis- 

 eased hides and safeguarding the orchards and nurseries and vineyards by denying per- 

 mission for the exportation of plants and shrubs from regions infested with insect pests. 

 The service rendered to the farmer and fruit grower by the Consular Service has been 

 incalculable, and yet is one of which little is known because it is one about which obviously 

 little can be said. 



The work done by Consuls in the discovery of new plants for the Department of 

 Agriculture is important, and we give a few illustrations of the practical results in this 

 field of activity. For example, Consul General Scidmore (Yokohama) and S. P. Barchet, 

 formerly Interpreter in Shanghai, contributed collections of soy beans from Korea and 

 China which have played a large part in the development of that great industry in this 

 country. Consul Magelssen sent the shoots from which the date palms are now growing 

 in the oases of southern California. Other ofificers have sent wild rice, mangoes, new 

 species of walnuts, new varieties of flax, and of grapes and of melons, many of which 

 under the expert care and distribution of the Department of Agriculture have added greatly 

 to the material wealth of the country. 



The duties connected with shipping were among the earliest with which consular 

 officers were charged. Indeed, vessels and seamen have from time immemorial been the 

 special care of the Consul. Last year our Consuls discharged 26,713 seamen and shipped 

 33,464. They reported 3,129 who had deserted and 209 who had died. They rendered 

 services to 27,837 vessels on entry and 27,838 upon clearance. They entered 7,720 marine 

 and "extended" protests during the year 1921, and relieved or sent home 5,197 seamen 

 at a cost of $214,619.90. Practically ever since the Government has operated vessels 

 in the merchant service consular officers have been called upon to safeguard the interests 

 of the Government. In 1917 they financed all Shipping Board vessels in foreign ports, 

 carefully preparing all accounts covering expenditures. 



Their special care of vessels led to a number of annoying incidents in which the 

 Consul's value to the Government was clearly shown. For example, the steamship Lake 

 Elkwood reached the port of Rio de Janeiro in a damaged condition and fell into the 

 hands of unscrupulous repairers. After many complications the Consul was called upon 

 to remove the master and take over the affairs of the vessel. Large sums of money were 

 saved to the Government. The Consul's acts were so vigorously resisted by the master 

 and others that the case was finally brought before a court in the United States, which 

 upheld the Consul. 



Some time later the same Consul uncovered a conspiracy on the part of the master 

 and chief engineer of another steamer to receive a comparatively small amount of oil and 

 charge for a much larger amount, thereby defrauding the Government of the difference. 

 The conspiracy was reported and the offenders were brought to justice. 



The steamship Poughkeepsie, owned by the Shipping Board, entered Bermuda in 

 distress. The crew demanded discharge and refused to perform their duties. The master, 

 unable to cope with the situation, placed the matter in the hands of the Consul, who held 

 that the crew had conspired to mutiny. He thereupon had them arrested and shipped 

 other men in their places, thus saving the vessel considerable time and expense. The 

 United States Circuit Court of Appeals later confirmed the judgment of the Consul. 



One of the most recent, as well as one of the most outstanding, contributions of a 

 Consul to the upbuilding of American shipping was that of the Consul at Alexandria, 

 Egypt. Lester Maynard, in connection with the carrying of cotton from Egj^t to the 

 United States. Egyptian cotton is an essential in the manufacture of automobile tires 

 and the imports into the United States of this product amount to about 125,000 bales 

 annually. British shipping interests had combined some twenty-five years ago to transport 



