Memo to all groups. EXHIBIT S-145 29, ARTHUR ROAD, WIMBLEDON PARK, London, S. W. 19, 22nd September 1939. I. R. M. A. AMERICAN GROUP For your information I give below a copy of a cable I have received today from Mr. Todd: "American members' unanimous opinion that nationally we should work together to extent conditions permit preserving unity as Group so as to revive International cooperation when such becomes possible Stop Further American Group believes not practicable since commencement hostilities preserve any semblance adherence International Quotas or prices and that consequently International obligations as to Quota price and penalty are indefinitely suspended. "WILLIAM B. TODD." EXHIBIT S-146 ROD. M. PEAT. Mr. EDWARD BERKFIELD, REGINA HOUSE, 5, QUEEN STREET, Secretary, The Steel Export Association of America, New York. DEAR SIR: We cabled you on the 3rd October that in view of Mr. Todd's direct message to the General Secretary we would not attend any further meetings of the London Committee. We attach Mr. Todd's message as circulated by the Secretaries, copy of letter from the Belgian Group dated 28th September, copy of letter from the Luxembourg Group dated 30th September, and copy of letter from the General Secretary dated 9th October. In this latter communication reference is made to a meeting of the London Committee held on the 5th October-which we did not attend although we were present at the meeting place. You will note it has been suggested that the representatives meet from time to time with a view to maintaining the organisation of the Association, and presumably to exchange information so as to avoid unnecessary competition and to enable reasonable prices and conditions to be maintained. The representatives, who propose meeting again on the 19th instant, are, we understand, the British, French, Polish, Italian, and Hungarian. DEAR SIR: At the Meeting of the London Committee held on the 5th instant, which was attended by some of the Representatives of the Groups, communications from the American, French, Belgian, Marigree, and Luxemburg Groups, of. which copies are attached, were submitted, and I was requested to ascertain the views of the Management Committee regarding the future of the Association. The Representatives present at the Meeting expressed the opinion that it was desirable to endeavour to maintain the organisation of the Association, and to meet, from time to time, to deal with any questions arising and enquiries, which it was felt could be usefully and profitably considered. The Representatives realised that the normal functioning of the Association in respect to Quotas and Basis Prices would probably be impracticable in existing circumstances, but considered that by keeping the organisation alive it would be possible to avoid competition to some extent and enable reasonable prices and conditions to be maintained, and also would be a means of exchanging information. Will you be good enough to consider the above suggestions and advise me of your views so that I may be in a position to report on the matter to the Repre sentatives at their next Meeting on the 19th instant. Yours faithfully, (Sgd.) ROD. M. PEAT, General Secretary. DEAR SIR: We have taken note of the latest Minutes of the Committee Meetings and notably the Minutes of the Meeting held on the 11th instant, in which our attention is drawn to the following: "The British Representative stated that his Group were of opinion it was desirable to keep the organisation of the Association alive and that the London Committee should continue to meet from time to time ac may be required." On the other hand, we have received your memorandum of the 22nd instant, advising us of the telegram which Mr. Todd, delegate of the American Group to I. R. M. A. has just sent you, reading thus: "American members unanimous opinion that nationally we should work together to extent conditions permit preserving unity as group so as to revise International co-operation when such becomes possible stop Further American Group believes not practicable since commencement hostilities preserve any semblance adherence International quotas or prices and that consequently International obligations as to Quota price and penalty are indefinitely suspended." We wish to inform you that the opinion of the Belgian Group is exactly the same as the one thus expressed by the American group: the circumstances prevailing since the 1st September render the normal functioning of our Association practically impossible and we consider that the Association should be suspended as and from the commencement of this month until the circumstances render possible once again normal relations between the Groups of rail makers with the Central organisation in London. We may add that this opinion is also that held by the Luxemburg and Marigree Groups and that the three Groups of the Union Economique Belgo-Luxembourgeoise contemplate constituting between themselves-as in the case of the Works of the American Group-a provisional Agreement which will function until I. R. M. A. can resume its normal activity in conformity with the Agreement. Those three Groups have consequently decided to retake the complete liberty as and from the 1st September both as regards quotas, prices, penalties, and all other obligations provided for in the Agreement, and by the same post they are giving instructions to their respective delegates to refrain as and from now from attending the London Committee Meetings. We remain, dear sir, etc. HGP. EXHIBIT S-149 GROUPEMENT DES INDUSTRIES SIDERURGIGUES LUXEMBOURGEOISES, I. R. M. A. organisation of the Association alive and that the London Committee should continue to meet from time to time as may be required." Furthermore, we have received your memorandum of the 2nd inst. giving the views of the American group on this matter as per the telegram sent to you by Mr. TODD. We must state that our opinion is the same as that of the American group and we consider that our Association should be suspended as from the 1st of September 1939 until normal relations can again be resumed between all the groups and the London organisation. This opinion is shared by the Belgian group and by Marigree and the three groups of the Belgian-Luxemburg Economic Union are considering to constitute between themselves a temporary agreement, which will operate until IRMA can resume her normal activity in conformity with the Agreement. These three groups have therefore decided to resume their complete liberty since the 1st of September 1939, as in regard to quotas, prices, penalties as to all other obligations foreseen in the IRMA Agreement, and they are giving immediately the necessary instruction to their respective delegates that same should from now on no more assist at the meetings of the L. C. Yours faithfully, DEAR SIR: We wrote to you on the 20th September, 13th October, 19th October, and 23rd October, but have not received any acknowledgment from you. It would appear, therefore, that you have no special comment to make in regard to the proposal that our Group should send a Representative to informal meetings to be held occasionally in London for the purpose of exchange of information. As a matter of interest there have been further developments in regard to the position of the Belgian, Marigrée and Luxembourg Groups and we enclose copies of letters to Mr. Peat as follows: Mr. L. Greiner's letter dated 30th October. Mr. A. Meyer's letter dated 31st October. Mr. F. Perot's letter dated 3rd November (with translation). You will note that Mr. Greiner of the Belgian Group has agreed to his Representative, Mr. Corin, attending these meetings, on the understanding that they the informal and qiute unofficial and will not deal wtih allocation, enquiries, approval of prices, etc. Further, he has raised the question of the expenses of running the Secretary's office under such conditions. Mr. Perot of Marigrée, after establishing the position that the I. R. M. A. Agreement is suspended, authorises his London delegate to attend with a view to maintaining contact and exchanging information. Mr. Meyer of the Luxembourg Group authorises his Representative, Mr. Clasen, to attend unofficial meetings, with no circulation of Minutes and with no binding powers. In addition to the above Mr. Peat has dealt with the question of expenses in a letter addressed to me which reads as follows: "I have now heard from the various Groups to the effect that they are agreeable to their London delegate attending the informal Meetings of the London Committee from time to time, as I am anticipating that when a more favourable situation arises it will be possible to revive the Association to its original usefulness. "With regard to the question of remuneration to meet the costs of the Association owing to its restricted operations, I have endeavoured to arrive at some form of modified costs. I have come to the conclusion that as the costs of running the Association under present conditions will be so very 96347 0-50-pt. 4B- -21 much less, I should notify the Members of some estimate of what these costs will be, and that £600 sterling per annum, plus, say £50 for outlays, to cover stationery, etc., will meet the situation. Of course, no charge will be made for rent as from the 1st September. "If, from experience, I find that I can reduce these costs I will certainly do so, and I assume that the Association will be willing to review these matters should the activities of the I. R. M. A. once again become more normal. "If there are any matters upon which you require any further information please do not hesitate to communicate with me." There was a Meeting on the 9th November which was attended by the British, French, Polish, Italian, Hungarian, Luxembourg, Belgian, and Marigrée Repre sentatives. This was followed by a luncheon given by the British Railmakers' Association to the I. R. M. A. Representatives, Mr. Arthur Dorman presiding. Notwithstanding that we pointed out that we could not attend any meetings, we received a special inviation to be present a the luncheon, which we accepted. There were present the Delegates of the British Railmakers' Association, the London Representatives of I. R. M. A., Captain Bullen and Mr. F. Welling rep resenting the Canadian Railmakers. As the stray sheep of the flock we were given a place of honour next to Mr. Dorman, who addressed a few words in support of the arrangement arrived at whereby the various interested parties could keep together to the mutual advantage of all until such time as it was possible to revive the full working of the I. R. M. A. Agreement. We were invited to address the assembly and in so doing we were, naturally, careful not to encourage the obvious desire on the part of those present that we should allow a Representative to attend the informal meetings of the London Committee. We could only inform them that we were keeping you fully advised of developments on this side and that any subsequent advices received from you giving a further expression of your views would be communicated through the medium of the Secretary. Yours truly, EXHIBIT S-151 P. BIANCHI. COMPTOIR DES ACIERIES BELGES, Seraing le 30 Octobre, 1939. Messrs. R. M. PEAT, I. R. M. A. DEAR MR. PEAT: I duly received on the 25th instant your kind letter of the 20th instant the contents of which I read with the greatest attention. Mr. Corin informed me, that although according to my instructions, he was no more attending the meetings of the London Committee, you had been so kind as to keep him informed of the proceedings of these Meetings and I wish to thank you for your kindness. On the understanding that such Meetings of the London Committee are to be only informal and quite unofficial, without dealing with allocations of enquiries. approval of prices, etc., as was the case before the outbreak of war, in other words: that their purpose would be exclusively to exchange general information and to keep friendly contact amongst the Delegates of the remaining groups in the Association and yourself, I am no more objecting to the presence of Mr. Corin at these Meetings and I am instructing him accordingly by same mail. I suppose that owing to the fact that the activity of the London Committee will now be confined to the above objects, it will be possible to considerably reduce the expenses of the London Office and I should be very pleased if you would be so kind as to send me an approximate estimate of such expenses, so that the Members of the Belgian Group may have an idea of the charges they will have to bear. I thank you in advance. With kind regards. Yours sincerely, (Signed) L. GREINER. |