 |
“In accordance with our
arrangements in Berlin, I have meanwhile taken up negotiations with the
competent authorities in order to obtain the necessary freedom of action in the
United States of America with regard to rubber-like products. As anticipated,
those negotiations have proved to be rather difficult and the respective
discussions are expected to take several mouths before the desired result is
obtained. I will not fail to inform you about the result in due course.”
[NI-10505, Pros. Ex. 966.] |
| On 20 April 1938, Howard wrote to ter Meer urging speed and
said: |
| |
“My view is that we cannot
safely delay the definite steps looking toward the organization of our business
in the United States with the cooperation of the people here who would be the
strongest allies, beyond next fall - and even to obtain this much delay may not
be too easy.” |
In October 1938, the minutes of the Ministry of Economics
[NI-10459, Pros. Ex. 967] showed that use of patented buna processes and
know-how abroad was permitted with certain restrictions including obtaining
consent for passing it abroad “Should fundamental new knowledge with
regard to buna be obtained * * * .” In a letter from Ringer, a Farben
executive to the defendant von Knieriem dated 28 September 1939, referring to a
pending conference with Howard of Standard Oil at The Hague, it was said:
“Dr. ter Meer thinks it is necessary to point out specifically that there
will be no exchange of experience with respect to buna; * * * ”
[NI-10466, Pros. Ex. 974].
A commentary, dated 6 June 1944
[NI-10551, Pros. Ex.
994] forwarded by defendant von Knieriem to several persons in Farben,
including defendants Schmitz, Ambros, Buetefisch and Schneider, is particularly
significant. It refers to an article which appeared in America in the
“Petroleum Times,” written by Professor Haslam, declaring "that the
Americans received processes from IG which were vitally important for the
conduct of war." In the commentary it stated: |
| |
“In summary, it can thus be
said concerning the production of aviation fuels, that we had to use methods
which differed in principle from those of the Americans. The Americans have
crude oil at their disposal and naturally rely on the products that are created
in the processing of crude oil. In Germany, we started out on a coal basis and
from there proceeded to utilize the hydrogenation of coal for the production of
aviation fuel. As mentioned above, however, specialized information was not
turned over to the Americans. Therefore, in contrast to Professor Haslam’s
assertions, hydrogenation proper was used in Germany, though not in America,
for the |
1278 |
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