Cseh Valentin szerk.: „70 éve alakult a MAORT” – tanulmányok egy bányavállalat történetéből (2009)

Lajos Srágli: Hungary's Economy, Politics and MAORT

Hiiiigaiys licoiiomy, Politics ami AMORT not permitting the validation of factors wishing to force the abandoning of their production principles, they did not rule out to sell their products to Germany due to business reasons. Hungary declared war on the United States on December 13, 1941, therefore MAORT, as an American-owned company, funcdoned in enemy territory starting from that day. On the basts of the Council of Ministers' resolution, the Minister of Industry decreed the placing of MAORT into treasury use through Decree no. 79.997/11, dated December 21,1941.

14fi The placement of MAORT into treasury use had no bearing on capital stock, nor the rights granted in the concession accord and agreement (as well as the Supplementary Accord and Supplementary Agreement), which subsisted unchanged. The whole affair was about pretermitting MAORT's operation, and setdng up a new company for operating the plants, which was registered under the name "Maori Plants in the use of the Hungarian Royal Treasury". Thus there were two companies existing next to one another at the same time, and this resulted in complicated relationships which occasionally appeared inextricable. MAORT suspended its operation as a consequence of having been placed in treasury use, actual business was only conducted by the firm called MAORT Plants in the use of the Hungarian Royal Treasury (which was still referred to as MAORT in everyday conversation). MAORT's management and owners - although they surely foresaw this happening - were wont to resign to placement into treasury use. In their opinion - and this was the truth - this contradicted the accord concluded with EUROGASCO on the basis of Act VI of 1911, but was also in violation of the friendship, trade and consular treaty concluded between Hungary and the United States on June 24, 1925, which was meant to ensure the interests of American citizens in their businesses in Hungary. A procrastinated debate - lasting all the way to 1944 developed between the Ministry of Industry and MAORT, because this means of taking over for use raised any number of legal problems which even the brightest legal counsel could not resolve.

14 The place and role of MAORT in Hungary's industry and economy became ever more significant in the war period

—over and above strategic considerations. It reached the top echelon of Hungarian industry. In addition to its activity taking the country that used to be one that covered its demand solely from imports to the ranks of crude oil exporting nations by 1942, MAORT became the third largest (after the Salgótarján Fossil Coal Mine Ltd. and Hungarian General Mineral Coal Mines Ltd.) mining company in Hungary in 1943 (i.e. in five years time). Looking at the value of its production, it made up for 43.5% of the value of Hungary's combined coal production in 1942. In 1943, the country had a total of 13 crude oil refineries, whose operation was based on MAORT's crude oil production. "* MOIM Arch. PS. 47/4. OL Z 356 pack. 1. 4., pack. 1 3.; MOIM Arch. PS. 47/4. Taking MAORT and Vacuum Oil Co.'s plant into treasury use was resolved on the December 19, 1941 meeting of the Council of Ministers. According to certain opinions (ADAMY-XF.MKTH 1968., 143.) this was connected to PM Bárdossy's talks in Germany, that is to say it took place according to German expectations. Simon Papp's notes, and other MAORT documents, however, confirm that taking into treasury use took place for quite the opposite reason, that is to avoid the validation of the German concept, whereby MAI )RT would have been completely subordinated to them. This was how its appropriation and confiscation - as property of citizens of a hostile nation - could be prevented. " Placing into treasury use apparently meant hardly any change tor outside observers, but even tor the majority ot the company's employees, apart from the newly created company appearing as more than simply MAORT on its letterhead and stamp. The name MA( )RT also persisted in common use with respect to the treasury held firm. For the sake of simplicity - since the elate of taking into treasury use, and its subsequent cancellation clearly delineates the sense in which the MAORT name is used, furthermore because MA()RT did not engage in any actual activides in this period - we are going to use the name MA( )RT in the case of the treasury held firm as well.