since peace transferred to London, thus the above offer. In Cologne I went to
Lloyds and saw the manager, but was very ‘disappointed’ with their terms.
They give no interest on deposit accounts which I think takes the bun, so I
am not going to transfer any money to them. I may have my securities sent
there later on … I enclose a cheque for £650 as I owe you £50 …
Your loving brother, Robert.
The letter also goes on to reveal some other interesting aspects of Robert’s life
at the time viz., the arrival of Mrs. Walter and Flora (Emily’s mother and
sister) from an impoverished Germany to St Johns Road the previous day,
both looking ‘very thin—especially Mrs. Walter, the installation of electric
heating in the house to save on labour as they have no servants yet, the theft
of their linen from their previous home whilst in transit, the safe arrival of
their furniture, and the hope that their silver will arrive soon. The ‘nonsense’
regarding the car too seems to have been just a ruse to transfer a substantial
amount from his ammonia royalties to Bertie, a harbinger of Robert’s subsequent generosity regarding his ‘rewards’. But clearly, at least some of
Robert’s money ‘due since peace time’ remained in Germany even though
normal bank transfer arrangements between Germany and the UK seem to
have been re-established after the war. But this money, it seems, did not
include the separate contract Haber made with Robert to cover 1918 and this
little ‘difficulty’ it seems rumbled on, and over the next few years we have
addition evidence of Robert’s return to Germany to meet Haber.
In conversation with Johannes Jaenicke in 1959, (Chap. 18) Robert
mentions a ‘business’ trip to Berlin in ‘1923 or 1924’ when he firstly met
Haber at the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute, moving from there by rail
62 to
Dresden to meet his friend Max Mayer. Although Robert reveals no purpose
to the meetings—other than renewing old acquaintances—the suspicion
must be that ‘matters financial’ may well have been discussed, with Haber
probably bemoaning the fragility of his finances.
52 However, what evidence
we have suggests that shortly after his trip Robert became increasingly frustrated by the lack of movement regarding his payment for 1918, and he
placed a complaint before the joint German–English Arbitration Board. This
seems to have taken place in 1924, but the details are vague. One fragmentary
source comes from the German representative at the Board, referring to the
lawsuit, ‘Le Rossignol vs Haber’ dated 01 March 1924.
63 Another hint is in a
memo of the BASF patent department regarding Haber’s letters to Bosch of
15 and 18 March 1926,
63 but the evidence is ill-formed and so it is difficult
to reconstruct any reliable detail for the case. However, what seems firmly
established is that Robert later withdrew his action.
63 Robert’s legal action
346
D. Sheppard
Lloyds and saw the manager, but was very ‘disappointed’ with their terms.
They give no interest on deposit accounts which I think takes the bun, so I
am not going to transfer any money to them. I may have my securities sent
there later on … I enclose a cheque for £650 as I owe you £50 …
Your loving brother, Robert.
The letter also goes on to reveal some other interesting aspects of Robert’s life
at the time viz., the arrival of Mrs. Walter and Flora (Emily’s mother and
sister) from an impoverished Germany to St Johns Road the previous day,
both looking ‘very thin—especially Mrs. Walter, the installation of electric
heating in the house to save on labour as they have no servants yet, the theft
of their linen from their previous home whilst in transit, the safe arrival of
their furniture, and the hope that their silver will arrive soon. The ‘nonsense’
regarding the car too seems to have been just a ruse to transfer a substantial
amount from his ammonia royalties to Bertie, a harbinger of Robert’s subsequent generosity regarding his ‘rewards’. But clearly, at least some of
Robert’s money ‘due since peace time’ remained in Germany even though
normal bank transfer arrangements between Germany and the UK seem to
have been re-established after the war. But this money, it seems, did not
include the separate contract Haber made with Robert to cover 1918 and this
little ‘difficulty’ it seems rumbled on, and over the next few years we have
addition evidence of Robert’s return to Germany to meet Haber.
In conversation with Johannes Jaenicke in 1959, (Chap. 18) Robert
mentions a ‘business’ trip to Berlin in ‘1923 or 1924’ when he firstly met
Haber at the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute, moving from there by rail
62 to
Dresden to meet his friend Max Mayer. Although Robert reveals no purpose
to the meetings—other than renewing old acquaintances—the suspicion
must be that ‘matters financial’ may well have been discussed, with Haber
probably bemoaning the fragility of his finances.
52 However, what evidence
we have suggests that shortly after his trip Robert became increasingly frustrated by the lack of movement regarding his payment for 1918, and he
placed a complaint before the joint German–English Arbitration Board. This
seems to have taken place in 1924, but the details are vague. One fragmentary
source comes from the German representative at the Board, referring to the
lawsuit, ‘Le Rossignol vs Haber’ dated 01 March 1924.
63 Another hint is in a
memo of the BASF patent department regarding Haber’s letters to Bosch of
15 and 18 March 1926,
63 but the evidence is ill-formed and so it is difficult
to reconstruct any reliable detail for the case. However, what seems firmly
established is that Robert later withdrew his action.
63 Robert’s legal action
346
D. Sheppard