Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-12-06
SCHROEDER
TOA TECHNICAL VIOLATION ONLY

George ROdiek went 10 the Hawaiian
islands and later became an American
citizen. married an American and rose
10 prominence in commercial lie IN
Honolulu.
The residential head Of HaCkfeld 4
Company has always acted as the To-
cal German consul. When. in Septem.
Der. 1913. George Rodek became the
local managing director of Hackteld d
Company. he incidentally became the
resident German consul at Honolulu,
receiving mis- exequatur from the gov
eminent of the United States. 1t Is
and has been customary for American
citizens. native-bOrn and naturalZed,
to act as consular representative with
in the United States OF foreign govern
ments, and the inCumbency Of such Of
flee involves no surrender OF the obll'
cations resting upon them as Amerl'
can citizens.
Immediately upon the outbreak OF
the European war in August, 1914, Mr.
Rodiek, becoming apprehensiVe that
duties as consular representative oil
the German government might conflict
with the duties Of American citizen.
ship, sought the advice of counsel, the
most prominent American lawyers in
Honolulu, and was by them informed
that the retention Of his office as Ger.
man consul was not inconsistent with
his duties as consular representative OF
in violation Of the Presidents proCla-
nation of neutrality.
After receiving this advice, Mr..
;oI, 70 ~
( representative Of Germany until dip
lomatic relations between Germany
and the United States we're severed.
The office of consul is mainly COM
mercial agency and it was in the ca
pacity Of commercial representative
alone that the defendants, Rodiek and
Schroeder. gave attention to the mat.
tiers referred to. If in any aspect these
transactions could be regarded as VIC
lation of any Of the neutrality laws of
the United States, their participating
herein was without guilty knowledge
or intent.
while pleading guilty to violation
of one of the neutrality laws OF the
country, and thus, as to himself, bring
ing this trial to a conclusion, the de-
PENDANT, Rodiek, does not coneede any
disIeyalty to this country or lack Of
devotion to its institutions.
His patriotism and loyalty are EVIL
denced by the purchase of Liberty
Bonds to the extent of about three
quarters OF a million dollars made
by himself personally and by his firm,
H. Hackfeld G. Co., and its affiliated
concerns, and by his personal, gen.
erous and continuous contributions to
the American Red Cross, which facts
are we'll known to the officials and
citizens OF Hawaii
mo charge of any kind Is made
against either of these two defendants
involving any transaction occurring
subsequently to the declaration Of war
between the United States and Ger.
many, or, In fact, subsequent to the
month Of June, 1915.
while conserving, under the exist
ing circumstances, to the entry Of
plea Of guilty, these two defendants
are convinced that the testimony here
after to be produced during the pres.
ent trial will demonstrate that their
participation in any of the transac.
tons shown was without knowledge
that such act would violate any law
Of the United States Of America.
future conduct and future residence in
their Hawaiian home to confirm the
respect and confidence of their neigh.
bors and their right to fellowship with
American citizens"