December 17: ON THIS DAY in 1950, U.S. cuts off all trade with China

December 17, 2018 Brooklyn Daily Eagle

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ON THIS DAY IN 1950, the Eagle reported, “Washington, Dec. 16 (U.P.) – The government cut off all U.S. trade with Communist China and North Korea tonight and also blocked their financial assets in this country. The economic sanctions will remain in effect so long as Red China continues its intervention in the Korean War, a State Department announcement said. The orders prohibit any American ship or aircraft from entering any port or city under Chinese Communist rule. The blocking decree puts assets of Red China and North Korea under rigid control of the U.S. Treasury. United States trade with Communist China probably would add up to millions of dollars. The precise figures were not revealed in the official announcements. There also was no estimate of the Communist financial accounts here although the North Korean accounts were said to be ‘negligible.’ In addition to the outright trade ban, a Commerce Department order forbids American ships and planes from carrying any cargo anywhere in the world if there is reason to believe it is destined ‘directly or indirectly’ for Red China.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1842, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported, “Wm. Wallace, Esq., the Kentucky poet, will address the Parent Temperance Society of this city on Monday evening.” Wallace is best known for his 1865 poem “The Hand That Rocks the Cradle Is the Hand That Rules the World,” a celebration of motherhood.

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ON THIS DAY IN 1875, the Eagle reported, “The arrangements perfected for the dedication of the new Church of the Transfiguration, on Hooper Street near Marcy Avenue, Rev. John Fagan, pastor, next Sunday, the 19th inst., are of a specially imposing character even for a Catholic church. Preceding the solemn high mass at 10:30 a.m., the Right Rev. Bishop [John] Loughlin will dedicate the structure in the manner prescribed by the church for such occasions. He will be assisted by a large number of the clergy of the diocese.” Loughlin was the first bishop of Brooklyn, serving from 1853-1891. Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School in Fort Greene is named for him.

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ON THIS DAY IN 1894, the Eagle reported, “In the death of Robert Louis Stevenson, which occurred at Samoa more than a week ago, though the news only comes this morning, English literature has suffered its severest loss in recent years. Other great men have died, full of years and honors, with their work finished. But Stevenson, born in 1850, was in what should have been the plentitude of his powers. We had a right to look to him for more of those tales which stamped him the greatest story teller since DeFoe. And now the list is ended. It is not long enough to satisfy the lovers of wonder tales and of romance, but many of the books in it are as sure of immortality as the work of any man can be until it has been passed upon by the generation succeeding his own.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1897, the Eagle reported, “Mayor [Frederick W.] Wurster today sent out letters to about a hundred prominent citizens, asking them to confer with himself and the Society of Old Brooklynites at his office tomorrow afternoon, in relation to the proposed celebration of the end of Brooklyn’s existence as a separate municipality.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1920, the Eagle reported, “Laurium, Mich., Dec. 17 – Messages were received today from football players and others in all parts of the country expressing sympathy to the parents of George Gipp, Notre Dame football star, whose funeral will be held here Saturday. Floral offerings have been sent by colleges and universities. As a mark of respect, business houses here and in Calumet will close Saturday afternoon during the funeral. Members of the Notre Dame football team will be pallbearers. Alumni and students of Notre Dame today announced their intention of starting a movement to erect a monument and tablet at South Bend, Ind., in honor of the dead athlete.” Gipp was immortalized In the 1940 feature film “Knute Rockne, All American.” He was portrayed by Ronald Reagan.