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evidence reveal a record of conduct on the part of Farben
characterized by duplicity and lack of that candor and frankness contemplated
by the relationship with Farben’s foreign associates. Such conduct must
have been expressly designed to delay the rearmament of Germany’s enemies
in preparation to meet and resist any Nazi aggression and, to some degree,
undoubtedly contributed to this result.
g. Propaganda, Intelligence
and Espionage Activities, The far-flung organization of Farben was an ideal
vehicle for carrying Nazi propaganda throughout the world. Soon after the Nazi
rise to power in 1933, officials of Farben took the initiative in launching an
extensive program. Defendant Ilgner organized a Circle of Economy Leaders,
which cooperated with the Propaganda Ministry. This organization undertook to
see that “the situation in ‘new Germany’ ” would appear in
a more favorable light abroad. Defendant Gattineau said with reference to its
activities [NI-4833, Pros. Ex. 26]: " |
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* * * It also was the task of the
Circle of the Economy Leaders to prevent awkward actions of the Ministry of
Propaganda and to substitute for them more suitable ones. The Circle of Economy
Leaders was well qualified for this because its members knew the situation
abroad well; they had good connections abroad and were acquainted with the
mentality of the respective countries. The development of events in Germany had
greatly disturbed the expert policy and the representatives of industry were
now wishing to counteract this unfavorable development by appropriate
propaganda. One tried to shift the attention from political questions to
cultural ones. To the Propaganda Ministry this development was very desirable
because in that manner the connections which industry had abroad could be used
for its purposes. Besides, it was an advantage to use people not known to be
paid propagandists. This propaganda activity was financed not by the Propaganda
Ministry but by the firms of the respective subdepartment chiefs. In that
manner I handled Scandinavia, and Dr. Max Ilgner North America. Among other
things also trips by foreign newspapermen to Germany were financed. The
negotiations with and the payment to the propagandist Ivy Lee also occurred
during that period. Payments made for such purposes were accounted for by Dr.
Ilgner with the Zentral-Finanzverwaltung of IG and Geheimrat Schmitz was
informed about them. Dr. Ilgner’s Office was used as the business office
of the Circle of Economy Leaders. Other propaganda organizations which had been
established upon Ilgner's initiative are the Association of Karl Schurz and the
Mitteleuropaeische Wirtschaftstag. This activity of Dr. Ilgner's also was an
expression of his efforts to make himself useful to the new man in power, thus
to obtain a prominent position for himself. He was in a position to do this
because as head of the NW 7 organization of IG he had an insight
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