A Flag of Convenience

Cherry

By luigi_pagano

Fri, 16 Jul 2021
  • 844 reads
4 comments
 
"Oi, Bert. Look what I found: a final demand. Somebody in Accounts has again forgotten to pay the bills on time."
 
"What is it this time? Electricity?"
 
"Nah, flags."
 
"Oh, it must be for those slabs that were laid in the front courtyards, but that was donkey's years ago."
 
"That's right, 1772."
 
"Don't be daft, you mean 1972."
 
"No, look for yourself. it is addressed to Frederick North and it says,
 
'Dear Lord North, despite previous reminders we are disappointed to note that the annual amount stipulated for the rental of the Genoese flag is still outstanding. The last instalment we received was at the beginning of 1771.
Your country is now in breach of the agreed contractual payment terms It is now imperative that this amount is settled in full.
 
Yours faithfully, Giovanni Battista Cambiasso Doge of Genoa
16 April 1772."
 
"Where did you find the note, Joe?", asked his boss.
 
"In an old recipe book. What should we do with it?"
 
"Send it to the Chief Accountant."'
◊ ◊ ◊
 
Mr. Sumsareus, the Chief Accountant, did what he always did with disputed amounts.
 
"Ms. Notsofast", he said to his secretary, "take this to the legal department.
 
◊ ◊ ◊
 
Messrs Eagle-Eye, Quibble and Nitpick, three expert lawyers, pored over law books to determine if the company was liable for this debt.
 
"' We know the origin of this claim, said Ted Eagle-Eye. It started when King Richard - not so much a Lionheart as a wily fox - who was embarking on a crusade in 1190, found that the Genoese flag granted immunity to anyone who sailed the seas.
He asked the Genoese Republic to use the banner of St. George in exchange for paying an annual tribute.
A tribute that the British regularly paid until 1771, when out of the blue they stopped paying."
 
"I would question the validity of the arrangement", said Mr. Eustace Nitpick, "It was agreed verbally and not in writing."
 
"Come, come Eustace", interjected Ernest Quibble, "we must accept that a gentleman's word is his bond."
 
The other two accepted the argument with some reluctance.
 
"Even if we acknowledge the debt, the Statute of Limitation would come into force.", said Ted.
 
Quibble, who liked to have the last word remarked: "Not if the debt relates to equity."
 
The discussion was in danger to go off the rails, so Ted, being the senior partner, concluded: "Having examined the relevant facts we can safely say that any liability belongs ipso facto to the State and not our company."
 
Ms. Notsofast, who had been taking the minutes, piped up:
 
"With due respect, gentlemen, it seems obvious to me that this demand is fake."
 
Shaken out of their complacency, they asked:
 
"How can you tell?"
 
By the fact that at the bottom of the page it says: the preferred currency is bitcoins.
 
 
© Luigi Pagano 2021
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Comments

Submitted by Di_Hard on

That's fascinating, I had no idea, so the flag, and St George, were kind of like having a forged passport ? 

 

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

Yes in a way, Di. At that time the Republic of Genoa had a strong naval force that was feared by rivals states. By using their ensign Richard would have ensured the safety of his fleet as no one would have dared to oppose Genoa. Mind you even nowadays, in peacetime, flags of convenience are used. Most merchant ships flying Panama's flag belong to foreign owners wishing to avoid the stricter marine regulations imposed by their own countries. ... Its flag offers the advantages of easier registration (often online) and the ability to employ cheaper foreign labour. Furthermore, the foreign owners pay no income taxes

Thanks for reading and commenting.
Luigi x

 

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

I like the name you gave the lawyers Luigi smiley

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

You may have noticed that all names are peculiar but try to indicate occupations and attitudes. The accountant's name spells Sums-are-us and the secretary's is something that she may say if someone makes a pass at her.
It shows my weird sense of humour. Delighted as usual about the delectable fruit. Please extend my thanks to the kind donor.

Luigi x