J 35/1.
MEMORANDU M.
11
War Trade Intelligence Department.
19th January, 1918.
PFISTER (Karl Johannes),
Wohlen,
Canton Aargau,
Switzerland.
(Importer and dealer in materials for the
straw and textile industry).
This man was added to the British Confidential Black List on the 10th December, 1917, in consequence of evidence derived in the main from intercepted
wireless messages and correspondence shewing that he was keeping alive in Switzerland the business of Rich. C. Pottstock of Bremen and that he was in close ponnection with the firm of Germann & do., Hanburg. He has been seeking to import hemp for the benefit of these firms, with the assistance of Hermann Dubler, Ootton Exchange Building, New York, Cesar Dubler, Calle Coello 208, Barcelona and other firms.
A detailed rezorandum of this evidence, and of evidence as to his transactions in malt and chemicals, which are entirely outside the scope of his regular business, is annexed hereto.
It is submitted that it may be desirable to consider whether steps cannot be taken by:
1. The French Government
2. The Government of the U.3.A.
3. The Italian Government
4. H. M. Board of Customs & Excise
5. The Colonial Office
to seize or requisition the stocks of hemp stored or lying within the jurisdiation of the respective Governments for account of Pfister as agent for Rich. Fottstock of Bremen.
It appears worthy of consideration whether proceedings. cannot be instituted in the respective jurisdictions rgainst the persons who may have rsaisted in the attempt to evade the measures taken by the Italian and British Governments to prevent the hemp reaching the enely.
The stocks which can be identified as being for Pister's account are:
1) 188 bales of hemp from Martini & Co., Manila, stored
with the Hong Kong branch of Kartini & Co., llanila or with Wells Fargo & Co., Hong Kong. It is believed that in or about vctober 1917, 142 bales of these were forwarded to England, presumably to Wells Fargo & 00.,