“Gen. Dir. Dr.
Schmitz: Agrees to this, method adopted after thorough discussion in order
to utilize experience in enlarging factories.”
“Min. Pres.
Goeriug: Indicates serious import reductions in the A-case (A-Fall) through
which price probably unimportant. Rubber is our weakest point.”
|
| The serious tone of the meeting further appears: |
| |
“Min. Pres. Goering:
After everybody has been given this survey the gentlemen are asked to cooperate
in the work of * * *
“The situation is not to be regarded as
something fixed and unchangeable, but as a starting point for new measures to
be taken, at the head of which is export. Proposals in all branches are
expected from those present. Questions concerning domestic raw materials and
substitute materials are emphasized again. It is emphasized that at any
moment we might be confronted with a situation of unparalleled seriousness,
which we must be in position to deal with.
“Everything has
to be regarded from these points of view. The speed of armament must under no
circumstances be impaired, on the contrary, even the interests of the factories
themselves should be relegated to the background. An appeal is made to the
idealism of industry. If perhaps great risks have to be taken now, nevertheless
there is reason to expect that they will also some day have correspondingly
great results. The establishment of Germany's liberty to rearm comes before all
else. The fate of the individual plant is immaterial just now. After overcoming
the present difficulties, ways and means will also be found to save the
individual plants from collapse. In conclusion, those present are asked if
anybody still wished to make a statement.” (Emphasis
supplied) |
| The repeated reference to the case of war could hardly have failed to
impress the hearers with the fact that the program under discussion was in
deadly earnest, with war a distinct possibility. The report states further with
reference to ores: |
| |
“Min. Pres. Goering:
Agrees with this. The important thing is to make it possible to convert to
domestic production and smelting in the event of 'Case-A' (Fall-A) * *
*”
“Min. Pres. Goering: A program lasting several years is
of no use for the Case ‘A’. The fall in the currency of our ore
suppliers has made the prices about 30 percent cheaper as against peace. What
is necessary in connection with our ores is not to confine ourselves to small
experiments but to pass over to large-scale operations, otherwise we will
not have any production reserves in the event of ‘Case A’
(A-Fall).” (Emphasis supplied). |
. 
