ANTI-TRUST SUIT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 88, Issue 7, 10 January 1944, Page 4

ANTI-TRUST SUIT

“INIQUITOUS CHARGES” DENIED Reed. 6 p.m. London. Jan. 7. Lord McGowan, president of the Imperial Chemical Industries. Ltd., has issued an additional statement on the American anti-trust suit. Lord McGowan said that since making the statement cabled yesterday his attention had been drawn to statements made by the United State Assistant Attorney-General, Mr. Wendell Berge. "While I haven't vet received a complete report,'" he' said. ""Mr Berge clearly states that in his view the activities of Imperial Chemical industries and du Pont de Nemours and Company had frustrated the Allied war effort and involved collaboration with the enemy. I cannot wait to obtain more exact information before denying utterly -and totally any suggestion that any action of ours during the war, and. indeed, before the war. was of any other character than designed to assist both the British and the Allied Governments by ever) means in our power.

"We have lent freely our ablest colleagues—staff and workers, including thousands of key men—to all Government Departments and factories, which asked for them. We have placed out research, patents, and processes. and all our knowledge, technical and commercial, for the purposes of war unreservedly at lhe disposal o. r the Government, and through them to America and Russia. Our war effort has been freely recognised and appreciated by the Ministries of ail three Services, the Supply Departments, and othet Ministers and their departments. I wish, therefore, on behalf of myself and Lord Mclchott. and my colleagues, and the 12O.fff:<) men an-t women working in our war factories, and the 15,000 of our employees who are serving in the Armed Forces, t . issue a fiat denial of these iniquitous charges and 10 make it clear that are prepared to meet them full, and in detail at the proper time' and place."’