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1938 did not interfere with my usual activity in international
negotiations whatsoever. In 1939 I had planned to go to America in early summer
on the buna questions, but I was informed beforehand that the road tests with
buna tires would not be conclusive before the end of August. So I had to
postpone my trip to the fall. But the outbreak of war prevented it. Without any
reservation, I can state that we were willing to make the know-how and the
technical processes concerning buna available to the American concerns in both
1938 and 1939 up to the outbreak of the war. Representatives of ICI visited us
in Germany in July I 1939. All this shows that there was no change in the
conduct of our business affairs during 1938 and 1939.
8. In late 1938
or early 1939, we made a change with respect to our English sales agencies so
that our stores of dyestuffs were sold out to them. There were also changes
made in British India. I recall that Dr. Kuepper went there for this purpose
late in 1938 and that the Agfa agency at Bombay was sold to the Koopman Bank.
These steps were taken as measures to avoid losses in the case of the outbreak
of war. It is a correct business attitude to diminish one’s risks. I do
not recall any steps which were taken before the outbreak of war in 1939
concerning our participation in South America. I recall that in about 1938 or
1939, the name of the American I.G. Chemical Company, New York, was changed to
General Aniline and Film Company, but in my opinion this was done on the
initiative of the America side. Of course, after the outbreak of war, certain
steps were taken in 1939 with respect to I.G. Chemie, Basel, by which the
existing agreements between I.G. Farben, TAG. Chemie, Basel, and General
Aniline and Film Company were discontinued, with the exception of the
agreements between I.G. Farben and G.A.F. dealing with the exchange of know-how
and patents.
My Reaction on the Outbreak of War
9. I was
very shocked at the outbreak of war, but I felt that not only the Nazis were
now involved, but also my country and my people. Therefore, I never considered
leaving Germany or withdrawing from my position as an important industrial
leader after the war broke out. I heard about Fritz Thyssen's flight from
Germany upon the outbreak of war or shortly thereafter, and when I was in
foreign countries during the war, or by some information which was brought to
me, I read some of his publications abroad against Nazi Germany and the war.
However, I think Thyssen must have prepared for this step long in advance. In
any event, I do not think it an example which could be imitated by everybody.
However, I did not and I do not consider Thyssen's flight from Germany upon the
outbreak of war as an |
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