Nexus - 0223 - New Times Magazine-pages

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According to Charles Higham in Trading with the Enemy, the German Army, Navy and Air Force hired IT&T to make “switchboards, telephones, alarm gongs, buoys, air-raid warning devices, radar equipment and 30,000 fuses per month for artillery shells used to kill British and American troops" after the bombing of Pearl Harbour. “In addition," Higham writes, "IT&T supplied ingredients for the rocket bombs that fell on London...high- frequency radio equipment and fortifica- tion and field communication sets. - Without this supply of crucial materials, it would have been impossible for the German Air Force to kill American and British troops, for the German Army to fight the Allies in Africa, Italy, France and “Germany, for England to have been bombed, or for Allied ships to have been attacked at sea.” hoping to increase sales of airplanes to spired with I. G. Farben to block American According to Charles Higham in Trading Nazi Germany, found a way around the __ research into synthetic rubber, in exchange —_ with the Enemy, the German Army, Navy restriction: instead of telling the Nazis for a promise that I. G. Farben would give and Air Force hired IT&T to make about divebombing, it demonstrated the Standard Oil a monopoly on its rubber- _"switchboards, telephones, alarm gongs, technique in air shows. A US Senate synthesising process. The investigation buoys, air-raid warning devices, radar investigation concluded, "It is apparent concluded that "Standard fully accom- equipment and 30,000 fuses per month for that American aviation companies did their _ plished I.G.'s purpose of preventing the artillery shells used to kill British and part to assist Germany's air armament." United States production by dissuading American troops" after the bombing of American rubber companies from under- Pearl Harbour. “In addition," Higham STANDARD OIL taking independent research in developing writes, "IT&T supplied ingredients for the The oil giant developed and financed synthetic rubber processes." rocket bombs that fell on London...high- Germany's synthetic fuel program in part- Standard Oil may have also helped dis- frequency radio equipment and fortifica- nership with German chemical giant, I. G. tribute pro-Nazi literature in Central tion and field communication sets. - Farben. America. According to Charles Higham in Without this supply of crucial materials, it As late as 1934, Germany was forced to Trading with the Enemy, "on 5 May 1941, would have been impossible for the import as much as 85 per cent of its petro- the US Legation at Managua, Nicaragua, German Air Force to kill American and leum from abroad. This meant that a reported that Standard Oil subsidiaries British troops, for the German Army to worldwide fuel embargo could stop were distributing Epoca, a publication _ fight the Allies in Africa, Italy, France and Hitler's army overnight. To get around this _filled with pro-Nazi propaganda. John J. ‘Germany, for England to have been threat, Nazi Germany began converting Muccio of the US Consulate made an _ bombed, or for Allied ships to have been domestic coal into synthetic fuel using investigation and found that Standard was _ attacked at sea." processes developed jointly by Standard Oil and I. G. Farben. a at beng acct (later Standard taught I. G. Farben how to |. Chase Manhattan Ban make tetraethy] lead and add it to gaso- As late as 1934, Ger many Chase operated branches in Nazi-occu- line to make leaded gasoline. This infor- was forced to Import as pied Paris and handled accounts for the mation was priceless; leaded gas was . German Embassy as well as German essential for modern mechanised warfare. mu ch as 85 per cent of its: businesses operating in France. An I, G, Farben memo stated, "Since the petroleum from abroad. This As late as six months before the start of beginning of the war we have been in a . World War I in Europe, Chase National position to produce lead tetraethyl solely meant that a worldwide fuel Bank worked with the Nazis to raise because, a short time before the outbreak embargo would stop Hitler's § money for Hitler from Nazi sympathisers of the war, the Americans had established ° in the US. plants for us ready for production, and army overnight. According to Higham in Trading with supplied us with all available experience. the Enemy, “In essence, the Nazi govern- In this manner, we did not need to per- ment through the Chase National Bank form the difficult work of development offered Nazis in America the opportunity because we could start production right distributing this inflammatory publication to buy German marks with dollars at a dis- away on the basis of all the experience that _all over the world.” count. The arrangement was open only to the Americans had had for years." those who wished to return to Germany Another memo noted that "without INTERNATIONAL TELEPHONE AND and would use the marks in the interest of tetraethy] lead, present methods of warfare TELEGRAPH the Nazis." Americans who were interest- would not be possible.” (Trading with the IT&T owned substantial amounts of — ed had to prove to the Nazi embassy that Enemy) stock in several German armaments com- they supported Hitler and his policies. Still another I. G. Farben memo chroni- _ panies, including a 28 per cent stake in Cooperation with the Nazis continued cled Standard’s assistance in procuring $20 Focke-Wolf which built fighter aircraft for even after America entered the war. For million worth of aviation fucl and lubri- the German Army. example, Higham says, Chase offices in cants to be stockpiled for war: “The fact Unlike General Motors, IT&T was per- Paris remained open long after other that we actually succeeded by means of the mitted to repatriate the profits it made in American banks had shut down, and even most difficult negotiations in buying the Germany, but it chose not to. Instead, the provided assistance to the Nazis: "The quantity desired by our government... and profits were reinvested in the German __Chase Bank in Paris was the focus of sub- transporting it to Germany, was made pos- armaments industry. According to _ stantial financing of the Nazi embassy's sible only through the aid of the Standard Anthony Sutton, author of Wall Street and _ activities throughout World War II with Oil Co." (Note: According to a 1992 arti- the Rise of Hitler, "IT&T's purchase of a the full knowledge of [Chase headquarters cle in the Village Voice, Brown Brothers substantial interest in Focke-Wolf meant in} New York. In order to assure the Harriman was the Wall Street investment that IT&T was producing German plancs Germans of its loyalty to the Nazi firm that "arranged for a loan of tetraethyl used to kill Americans and their allies— cause...the Vichy branch of Chase at lead to the Nazi Luftwaffe" in 1938. A and it made excellent profits out of the | Chateau-neuf-sur-Cher were strenuous in senior managing partner of the firm was _ enterprise." IT&T also owned factories in _ enforcing restrictions against Jewish prop- George Bush's father, Prescott Bush.) the neutral countrics of Spain, Portugal, erty, cven going so far as to refuse to Standard Oil may also have undermined Switzerland and Sweden which continued __ release funds belonging to Jews because US preparations for war. A congressional selling products to axis countries. they anticipated a Nazi decree with investigation conducted after World War II The relationship with the Nazis contin- _ retroactive provisions prohibiting such a found evidence that Standard Oil had con- ued even after the US entered the war. __ release." (Trading with the Enemy) hoping to increase sales of airplanes to Nazi Germany, found a way around the restriction: instead of telling the Nazis about divebombing, it demonstrated the technique in air shows. A US Senate investigation concluded, "It is apparent that American aviation companies did their part to assist Germany's air armament." distributing this inflammatory publication all over the world.” INTERNATIONAL TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH IT&T owned substantial amounts of stock in several German armaments com- panies, including a 28 per cent stake in Focke-Wolf which built fighter aircraft for the German Army. Unlike General Motors, IT&T was per- mitted to repatriate the profits it made in Germany, but it chose not to. Instead, the profits were reinvested in the German armaments industry. According to Anthony Sutton, author of Wall Street and the Rise of Hitler, "IT&T's purchase of a substantial interest in Focke-Wolf meant that IT&T was producing German planes used to kill Americans and their allies— and it made excellent profits out of the enterprise." IT&T also owned factories in the neutral countries of Spain, Portugal, Switzerland and Sweden which continued selling products to axis countries. The relationship with the Nazis contin- ued even after the US entered the war. 38 ¢ NEXUS DECEMBER 1994 - JANUARY 1995