The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-16
HIMMEL DEFENDED
IN MOVIE SCHEME
Two French Officials Declare
Promoter Still Has Their
support.
less AGITATION IN PARIS
sLanterne' Asserts There Is
No Evidence of Fraud in
Operations.
less AGITATION IN PARIS

ropyr.ghl. 1920. bv TIE NEW YORK IIEaALn.
~ New York U~r~ld bureau.
Paris. Dec. Is.
a Tie excitement in moving picture
circles here following the announcement
BY Maurice Casanave, French High
Commissioner IN the United States, that
he had not vouched. for Andre Himnei
in the latters organization of Franco
American cincmatograph corporation
capitalized at 500 1000. 900. and stimuli
taneous reports that all might not be
well with the scheme has subsided con-
siderably. NJ. Dalmler, formerly Under
Secretary of State for Fine Arts. and NJ.
frabion. director of Radio Agencies say
that NJ Himmel who formerly was
tailor and who is said to have admitted
that he started his huge scheme to con-
troll the worlds movies still have
their support and confidence.
The French cinema syndicate has ap-
pealed to the French Foreign Once for
definite statement regarding the Gov
ernment's position in connection with NJ.
what was declared TO be g semi-ofticial
role and posing as the friend OF NJ.
I Cesanave and Ambassador Jules j. Jus
serand. but so far the Government has
mel obtained his credentials through the
interest which NM Dalimier and Gablon
and several prominent members Of the
French Parliament showed In him.
French cinematograph men profess to
see in the scheme for the Hmnlel cor
poration a move aimed at making the
French cinematograph business subser-
went to American Aim producers. but
both NJ Dalimier and NJ Gabion assert
that this is not true and that the d.
irectorate Of the Hinnmel concern will be
entirely French, with the cornpany's Eu-
ropean activities centring in Paris. thus
making this city the worlds chief film
market.
Expectations will be possible on
igrand scale" NJ. Gabion said. ''In no
way does the French cinema industry
stand in danger Of passing into the
hands of American financiers. We 90
mot know whether Himmel is going TO
succeed In this undertaking. but In any
case we are interested and are giving
aim the support OF our names that he
,rnay succeed"
/ He warned against chargingSM Him
mel with fraud asserting that all the
laws relating to the business had been
observed scrupulously.
He has made the initial deposit re-
auired of a French corporation" he con-
tinued. 'All he did here was TO take
options. for which money has been de-
posted so that no one can lose. When
x1rha ~
good to us. and we admitted that II did,
he merely asked our moral support
which we have given"
The LdnteTne comes 10 the defence OF
the youthful promoter. who Is now de-
Scribed by IL as the victim OF opposi-
ton by two Jewish cinema promoters
who they say inveigled the Mdti,t into
"A personal business quarrel of their own
when the Himmel scheme threatened TO
conflict with their own interests The
agitation started, the LGnterno says. at
a private meeting in the Office OF Ed
mona Benoit Levy, who, with hts
brother. Pierre Marcel Levy. we'll known
In the cinema world, obtained the
Mathis assistance
The same newspaper asserts that
there is no evidence OF fraud in the
l!imTnel operations. as ali the options
we're covered. and NJ. Fl mners coa.soo-
raters here are sufficiently responsible
men not 10 foster designs on American
Granciers.
The only question apparently exciting
'he Governments interest now is tine
authenticity of letters from the Minis
try OF Commerce which NJ II nrne wa
aid to have used 70 gain the suppors
Of French Government officials In New
York. ". Clementei. formerly 3 Cabinet
Minister, already has denied having
given power tn VI Himnel According
TO the Intrdnsi0edrt, NJ. Meunic, Chef
du Cabinet upon being seen at the
Ministry OF Foreign Affairs. told rep
resentatfves Of the cinema syndicate
that the letters IN question were doubt
ful as the letter heads used were not
IN official use at the time the letters
were dated while the signature like
wise did not follows the usual form.
Moreover" be sad. ''such int-oduc-
tons were not circularized. but usually
were issued as persona letters. passing
through the Foreign Once" the In.
trdnstOeaHt concludes
Ambassador Jusse~and has already
been notified regarding NJ Hlmmels
credentials but b. Himmei's friends
assert he will undoubtedly explain who
issued his credentials They express
complete confidence in the man who
schemes 20 bring American dollars TO
The rescue Of the French film industry