Montana labor news., 1945-07-12
U.S.. SEIZURE OF |. G.
FARBEN BLOW AT
NAU WAR PLANS

kAH WAR PLANS
NEW YORK (FP)-Nazi plans for
another try at world domination were
dealt belly blow when the U. S. High
Command seized the powerful chemical
trust, l. G. Farbenindustrie, second big
gest industrial combine in Europe.
Until the U. s. Army TOOK over July s.,
the firm had been left in the hands Of
the same German managers who operat-
ed it in the interests of Nazi Germany
throughout the war The "a plants Of
the trust will be run by the Aerican
Army, pending their ultimate disposition
by the four power Allied government to
be set up in Germany
Allied Supreme Headquarters in Paris
announced the plants would be stripped
of all their war production machinery
and probably would resume operations
mainly to produce fertilizers drugs and
medicaments. Some controversy was re-
ported to have developed among u S.
commanders in Germany on the question
of whether the firm should be allowed to
resume manufacture of artificial nitrates.
Nitrates are vital in production of fer
tilizers, needed to get German agricul-
ture back on its feet and help feed starv-
ing Europe, but nitrates are also essen-
tial for making explosives.
The u. S. action indicated a change in
policy by American occupation force
leaders, who it had been charge were
allowing German industrialists to emerge
unscathed from the war and retain the
economic means for rebuilding a power
full war machine. An exclusive story
June 1 by Herbert A. Klein Federated
Press war correspondent, reported that
two tremendous I. G. Farben plants in
the Frankfurt area-with hundreds Of
buildings, sheds ana big yards-escaped
bombing almost entirely.
Also left almost completely intact We're
the I. G. Farben central Offices major
nerve center for Jhe vast International
industrial empire-wilh its cartel links to
Imperial Chemicals in England, dupont
and Standard Oil in the U. S and other
affiliates and subsidiaries in Latin
America and elsewhere.
Klein reported a conversation with
four 1. G. Farben directors, left in the
office building, who confidently expected
American help in getting back to busi-
ness as usual without a change in l. c.
Farbln management. AS a polite bribe
for American non-intervention in their
plans they announced they were ready
to turn over to U. S. and British stock
holders more than 400 accumulated diYi-
dends from German war industry
I. G. Farben which had a capital of
400 million marks in 1912 and con-
trolled almost 7Oao of the worlds chem
ical export trade before the war, used its
international connections to spearhead
Nazi bids for economic dictatorship of
the world.
Further evidence of l. G. Farben ef-
forts to evade war guilt was revealed by
U. S. Assistant Attorney General Her
bert Wechler in testimony before the Kill
gore Senate subcommittee, which is in
vestigation German potentialities for
another war Wechsler quoted docu-
ments seized in Europe, including the
minutes of a meeting Of I G. Farben
lawyers, which disclosed their plans to
transfer title to foreign Farben holdings
to American friends" or to neutrals who
would not be suspected.
BY far the most striking element of
the plan was the confidence of Farben |
officials that such transfers could be !
made without weakening Farben inter- !
ests or influence in the period after the
war" he said.
Testifying before the same committee, !
Assistant Attorney General Wendell Berg
reveald that at least three-fourths of |
Germanys industrial capacity had been
untouched by Allied bombings and |
warned that Germany already is plan
ming an industrial comeback on a 7-point |
plan The German industrialists pro-
gram aims to do the following things, he
said:
l. Keep industry undamaged by occu-
patton.
2. Maitain organized research person
nell and technical facilities.
8. Continue their economic domina-
ton of Europe.
A. Maintain their world cartel system :,
5. Retain holdings in other countries
seized during the war.
6. Rebuild indutry by giving u. S. and
British industrialists shares in their en-
terprises.
7. Retain the physical, political and
economic basis of military power.