Anne Landman's Collection
PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL AIR MAIL to Dr. Max Hausermann
Abstract
This confidential note was used as a Trial Exhibit in Texas' and Minnesota's cases against the tobacco industry. In it, Dr. Robert Seligman, Vice President of Research and Development (R&D) at Philip Morris U.S.A., writes to Dr. Max Hausermann of PM's Swiss R & D office cautioning him about the importance of eliminating all traces of written correspondence between PM's clandestine biological research labs in Cologne, Germany (INBIFO) and PM's New York office.
Seligman says, "We have gone to great pains to eliminate any written contact with INBIFO, and I would like to maintain this structure."
Seligman suggests possibly using a "dummy" mailing address to send test samples to INBIFO, or routing the samples through PM's R & D facility in Nuechatel, Switzerland.Fabriques de Tabac Reunies (FTR). The overall goal was to "avoid direct contact with INBIFO and Philip Morris U.S.A."
The note indicates that PM wanted to dissociate itself from the studies and experimental results emanating from the biological testing it was doing at its overseas labs in INBIFO.
Fields
- Notes
Thank you to Pascal Diethelm of Geneva, Switzerland for passing on this document to Doc-Alert.
- Quotes
March 31, 1977
PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL AIR MAIL
Dr. Max Hausermann Philip Morris Europe S.A. Research and Development P.O. Box 11 2003 Neuchatel Switzerland
Dar Max:
I received a copy of Helmut Gaisch's March 24, 1977 letter to Jerry Osmalov concerning pesticide residue analysis. As you were copied, you know that Helmut was requesting that we send samples directly to INBIFO. This suggested procedure is in direct conflict with our communications from the New York office. We have gone to great pains to eliminate any written contact with INBIFO, and I would like to maintain this structure.
Therefore, I am advising Jerry Osmalov to continue sending samples to Neuchatel for transshipment to INBIFO. If this procedure is unacceptable to you, perhaps we should consider a "dummy" mailing address to Koln [Cologne, Germany] for the receipt of samples. The written analytical data will still have to be routed through FTR if we are to avoid direct contact with INBIFO and Philip Morris U.S.A. I'll leave it to you to decide what route you will follow.
In any event, I would suggest you retrieve the March 24 letter Helmut Gaisch sent to Jerry, including all copies. My copy is returned herewith.
I look forward to your comments.
Best personal regards,
Robert B. Seligman
- Company
- Philip Morris
- Author
- Seligman, Robert B. (PM VP of R&D c. 1976-82)Vice President of Research and Development at Philip Morris Richmond, VA 1976-1982. Reported to Senior Vice President of Operations. In 1982 transferred to tobacco technology group. Wanted to share ammonia and other tobacco technology with PM International companies.
- Recipient
- Hausermann, Max (PME R&D VP c. 1977, Chemist)Position at PM was above Thomas Osdene and Bill Farone. Hausermann (a chemist) reported to senior VP Operations. Was Vice President at Fabrique Tabac Reunine R&D (owned by PM). He was fully knowledgable re INBIFO and Osdene programs.
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