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to having a voice in the fate of a plant which we had improved
technically. However, I am unable to give any details in the matter.
As
far as I remember, I discussed the model of a trustee agreement with Mr. Ambros
and inserted the protective clauses — or recommended their insertion
— which were required in the rightful interests of IG. The model agreement
was to be used not only for the projected Synthese-Kautschuk-Ost G. m. b. H.,
but also for other eastern corporations. I can no longer state positively what
discussions tools place with regard to a possible acquisition of ownership of
such factories, especially buna plants. Another Vorstand minutes which is in my
hands (No. 31 of 10 April 1942), only says that one of our most important
problems in the East |
| |
"* * * is the transfer of
trusteeships for the management of local enterprises, whose return to private
ownership at an appropriate date is agreed upon in principle. However, no
decision has yet been made as to the form in which this is to occur or the body
which is to obtain priority." |
My personal basic reaction towards new acquisitions was negative
inasmuch as I did not want to buy ordinary factories abroad anyhow. I discussed
these questions in great detail with Ambros, especially in the rubber affair.
The forced over-expansion of German production might have resulted in the
desire to minimize expansion in Germany by converting Russian rubber factories.
As far as I remember, I had planned to convert the Russian rubber factories
(which, owing to war events, now lay far behind the German front) to the
production of buna-S. In such a case, where we might have given the Russian
factories valuable information, we wanted to secure a right for a future date
also. The guarantee of such a right was only possible in an agreement in the
form of preemption. The German patents, which had already been in existence for
a long time, would not have afforded protection in Russia.
I wish to
state in this connection that about the same time the installation of a factory
had been begun in Auschwitz, in which I participated very unwillingly. The
whole Auschwitz enterprise might have been dropped if we had been able to
convert a Russian factory to our process; that may have influenced our attitude
towards the Russian factories.
I have carefully read each of the three
pages of this sworn statement and have signed them personally. I have made the
necessary corrections in my own handwriting and initialed them, and I declare
herewith under oath that in this statement I have given the pure truth to the
best of knowledge and conscience. |
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| [Signed] DR. FR. TER MEER |
295 |
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