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Unread 06-03-2003, 04:07 PM   #20
Big Norm
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Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: SE Michigan
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G.van Vlimmeren,
the Dutch did profit during WW1, but not nearly as much as it should have. Trade between then neutral America and the neutral Dutch was continuously hampered by the British who repeatedly confiscated shipments between neutral countries. The British continously broadened the definition of war material to the enemy. Few realise that the American navy wanted to go to war with the British over this issue and it almost came to be. But since America did more business with the French and the British then with Germany, the businessmen won. But this attitude with the American navy held through some of WW2 when American anti submarine home defense suffered because of it. Americas navy did not want to join with the Germans in WW1 against the British but rather wanted a separate war to protect our neutrality and sovereignty.
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