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| FILE MEMO |
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There are agreements and arrangements between the German production
companies (I.G. Farbenindustrie AG. and Ruhrchemie) and the large oil companies
such as Standard Oil, Shell, et cetera, with regard to mineral oil. Among other
things, these agreements provide for the exchange of know-how with regard to
mineral oil between the parties to the contract.
This exchange of
know-how, which is still being handled in the usual way by the neutral
countries abroad even now and which is transmitted to us via Holland and Italy,
first gives us an insight into the development work and production plans of the
companies and/or their respective countries, and at the same time informs us
about the progress of technical developments with regard to oil. In these
know-how reports, drawings and technical details about the most varied subjects
are passed on to us. The contractual obligations mean that we, too, must make
our experience with regard to oil available abroad within the framework of the
agreement. Up to now, we have carried out this exchange of know-how in such a
way that from our side we have only sent reports which seemed unobjectionable
to us after consultation with the OKW and the Reich Ministry of Economics and
which contained only such technical data as concerned facts which are known or
out of date according to the latest developments. In this way we have succeeded
in handling the agreements in such a way that in general the German economy
remained at an advantage.
In order to maintain the contact with neutral
countries abroad and the oil companies located there, we consider it expedient
to continue this exchange of know-how in the form drawn up, retaining, on our
part, the guiding principle that under no circumstances must any know-how of
military or military-political importance get abroad in this way. In all cases
of doubt, contact with the Reich offices concerned must, therefore, be made.
A decision must be reached on whether or not the exchange of know-how
should, on principle, be continued. |
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Berlin NW 7
25 January 1940 |
[Initials] BUE [for Buetefisch] |
|
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| 2. Letter from General Thomas to Defendant Bueteflsch, 6 February
1940, Concerning the Maintenance of Secrecy Necessary for National Defense in
Continuing the Exchange of Know-How |
| |
High Command of the Armed Forces
Wi Rue Amt/ |
| Secret |
| File 66b 9030; No. 775/40g |
1295 |
. 
