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my insight in the interlacement of the world economic relations. I
learned how far the wealth of a people is dependent on that of all the others,
how sensitive is the mechanism of mutual give and take and 1 recognized that in
the last analysis the basis for living together can only be mutual
understanding and confidence.
The First World War, which finished
abruptly a non-precedented prosperity and threw the whole world —
especially Germany — into long lasting misery, was a bitter experience to
me, and I hoped that I would never see such events for a second time. I got a
deep aversion to all which might endanger peace. Therefore I have always been a
follower of such a German economic policy which aimed at creating a basis of
confidence towards our former enemies and which tried to fulfil the conditions
of the Versailles Treaty, even if they were extremely hard. I always have
spoken in favor of Germany’s participation in the League of Nations. In
the early twenties I joined the Union Intellectuelle Européenne, an
international cultural institution working for reconciling the European
peoples, and developing a great activity in Germany through the German
“Kulturbund.” I supported and promoted the weekly “Europaeische
Revue,” edited by this confederation, in moral and financial respect, and
by contributing essays. The “Europaeische Revue” became a victim of
the Third Reich, because it adhered to the ideas of the League of Nations.
In the field of my own profession in which I was working since 1912, in
the beginning in one of the parent firms of IG, I tried to act in the same
reconciling manner. As early as 1919, Carl von Weinberg, one of my closest
associates, who has been frequently mentioned in this case, employed me in
international dyestuffs negotiations. I later continued his work, and I being
in a leading position in the field of dyestuffs I initiated all understanding
of the dyestuffs producers of all Europe and helped to realize it. The cartel
agreements mentioned in the course of the trial and partly submitted in their
exact wording can be regarded as a proof for my endeavors and for my success.
Towards the same end of international cooperation my activity served in matters
pertaining to international exhibitions and fairs and in particular my activity
as German Commissioner General for the World’s Fair in Barcelona.
During all my life I have been very fond of the French language,
literature, and arts; I therefore consider it an especially cruel and unjust
misunderstanding that I the prosecution charged me with having wanted to damage
French economy. It has always been my wish and vivid idea to throw a bridge to
the French world and to help in filling up the ditch separating Germany and
France. This is proved by my activity in the German-French trade negotiations
from 1925 to the outbreak of the war, and by my endeavors to intensify the
existing connections with the Belgian economy within the semiofficial
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