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| I. Preliminary Discussions in Wiesbaden (29
August) |
| |
As the chief result of the preliminary discussions held on 29 August
with the Armistice Delegation for Economic Questions (Legation Secretary von
Maltzan serving as deputy in the absence of the head of the delegation,
Minister Hemmen), it is to be noted that, after a detailed exposition by Consul
General Mann of the problems existing in the pharmaceutical field, the
Armistice Delegation for Economic Questions unanimously approved our plan to
bring about a private economic settlement with Rhône-Poulenc* which would
at the same time suit public interests, with the reservation that if the
occasion arose after the termination of the journey to Paris, we could have a
final discussion with the head of the delegation, Minister Hemmen, on the
separate items of our proposals.
A discussion on dyestuffs followed
which showed that (apart from the reply given by the delegation in the meantime
to the Union Syndicale), Wiesbaden has not changed its attitude at the moment
in regard to the building of the Kuhlmann question.
With respect to
cellophane, Maltzan was informed in accordance with the directives of Anderhub
that it seems expedient to advise the French agencies officially at a suitable
opportunity that cellophane production must be considered a luxury production,
so that the way can be prepared in this manner for fruitful negotiations with
the French partner without burdening Kalle.
As regards the question of
purchases, it was settled that the supply of phosphates still depends for the
time being on the preliminary questions relating to the clearing agreement
which will still require a certain amount of time for clarification. It was
agreed that Wiesbaden should he given an exposé clearly informing it of
our interests in the phosphate field.
During this special conference,
the general political and economic situation of France was discussed. The chief
thing to be noted here is that, out of the current negotiations concerning the
relaxing of the line of demarcation and the strengthening of German influence
in the top key offices of the French organization (in particular for foreign
trade, supervision of foreign currency, prices, and rationing), a new phase is
obviously opening up in our political-economic relations with France which will
probably make it necessary to inaugurate a series of new measures, the details
of which it is impossible to foresee today.
As one of these measures
concerns the clarification of the French customs system (which is characterized
today by the use of a general tariff), it was agreed that the wishes of Farben
as regards customs should be coordinated and, after relevant discussion with
the German agencies, they should be sent on to the Armistice Delegation for the
information of Hemmen. |
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*Société des
Usines Chimiques Rhône-Poulene.
99 |
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