George S. Messersmith facts for kids

Quick facts for kids George S. Messersmith
United States Ambassador to Argentina
In office April 12, 1946 – June 12, 1947
President	Harry S. Truman
Preceded by	Spruille Braden
Succeeded by	James Cabell Bruce
United States Ambassador to Mexico
In office February 24, 1942 – May 15, 1946
President	Franklin D. Roosevelt Harry S. Truman
Preceded by	Josephus Daniels
Succeeded by	Walter C. Thurston
United States Ambassador to Cuba
In office March 8, 1940 – February 8, 1942
President	Franklin D. Roosevelt
Preceded by	J. Butler Wright
Succeeded by	Spruille Braden
United States Assistant Secretary of State
In office July 9, 1937 – February 15, 1940
President	Franklin D. Roosevelt
Preceded by	Sumner Welles
Succeeded by	Hugh R. Wilson
United States Ambassador to Austria
In office April 7, 1934 – July 11, 1937
President	Franklin D. Roosevelt
Preceded by	George Howard Earle III
Succeeded by	Grenville T. Emmet
Personal details
Born	George Strausser Messersmith October 3, 1883 Fleetwood, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	January 29, 1960(1960-01-29) (aged 76)
Nationality	American
Profession	Lawyer, Diplomat

George Strausser Messersmith (born October 3, 1883 – died January 29, 1960) was an important American diplomat. He served as the United States ambassador to several countries, including Austria, Cuba, Mexico, and Argentina. He also led the American consulate in Germany from 1930 to 1934, during a time when the Nazi Party was gaining power.

Messersmith was well-known for his decision to help the famous scientist Albert Einstein get a visa to travel to the United States. He also played a role in the diplomatic handling of Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson, who later became the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, before World War II.

Early Life and Career Beginnings

George Messersmith went to Keystone State Normal School. After graduating, he worked as a teacher and then a school administrator from 1900 to 1914.

In 1914, he decided to join the foreign service, which is a branch of government that handles relations with other countries. He left his job as vice president of the Delaware State Board of Education to become a US consul in Fort Erie, Ontario, Canada.

After his time in Canada, he served as a US consul in Curacao (1916–1919) and Antwerp (1919–1925). In 1925, he became the US Consul General for Belgium and Luxembourg. From 1928 to 1930, he worked as the US Consul General in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Working in Berlin

In 1930, Messersmith moved from Argentina to take on the role of US Consul General in Berlin, Germany. In this job, he was in charge of managing the yearly number of visas given to Germans wanting to enter the US.

One of his most famous actions in Berlin involved Albert Einstein. Even though Messersmith didn't meet Einstein in person, he helped the scientist get a visa to leave Germany. He even called Einstein himself to let him know his visa was ready. This event made Messersmith quite famous in late 1932.

Messersmith also told other American consuls in Europe that people asking for a visa to enter the US needed to show they had enough money and property to support themselves.

In 1933, as America's consul general in Berlin, Messersmith sent an important message to the US State Department. He warned that the growing military spirit in Germany was dangerous. He believed that if the German government stayed in power, it could threaten world peace for many years.

Diplomat in Austria

Messersmith's time in Germany ended in February 1934. President Franklin Roosevelt first suggested him to be the US Ambassador to Uruguay. However, the next month, Roosevelt changed his mind and nominated Messersmith to be the Minister to Austria instead.

In January 1935, Edward Albert, who was then the Prince of Wales (and later became Edward VIII), visited Vienna, Austria, for a vacation. He was with his new friend, Wallis Simpson. While Simpson went shopping, Edward met with Austrian leaders. Messersmith had people watching these meetings. They reported back to him that the goal was to strengthen a peace agreement called the Balkan Pact.

When Edward gave up his role as king in December 1936, he visited Messersmith in Vienna. Messersmith kept a close eye on the Duke of Windsor, as Edward was then called. Despite this, they became friends and even attended Christmas services together.

Messersmith continued to spend time with Edward. In February 1937, Edward told Messersmith that his brother-in-law, the Earl of Harewood, had treated him poorly. After the Duke and Duchess of Windsor got married in June 1937, they spent their honeymoon in Austria. Simpson shared with Messersmith that she was upset about how the American media was treating her.

Messersmith later shared information with British officials that suggested the Windsors had connections that could affect their future.

Later Diplomatic Roles

From 1937 to 1940, Messersmith worked as a US Assistant Secretary of State. This was between his jobs as Minister to Austria and Ambassador to Cuba. In this role, he was in charge of reviewing appointments for the Foreign Service. He learned that President Roosevelt had a lot of information about many foreign service officers.

While Messersmith was the United States Ambassador to Cuba, he wrote a report in March 1941 about James D. Mooney, a friend of the Windsors. Messersmith believed it was not good for the Duke and Duchess of Windsor to be associated with Mooney. However, the Windsors still visited Mooney in Detroit in November 1941, just before the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Later, Messersmith became the United States Ambassador to Mexico. There, he continued to share information about the Windsors with Assistant Secretary of State Adolph A. Berle. During his time in Mexico, in 1942, he helped create the Benjamin Franklin Library in Mexico City. He also helped start The American Society of Mexico, a group that helped coordinate the American community there.

After Under Secretary of State Sumner Welles left his job in 1943, Messersmith was considered a possible replacement. However, President Roosevelt chose Edward Stettinius, Jr. instead, who later became Secretary of State.

Legacy

George Messersmith's collection of papers has been put online for researchers to study by the University of Delaware. This project was made possible with help from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC).