Salt Lake Telegram | 1928-12-18 | Page 3 | France Becomes Happy Haven for Foreign Political Refugees; Henry Blackmer Admitted

AA u nJ J France Becomes Happy Haven for Foreign Political Refugees Henry Blackmer Admitted I I S rF S S S 5 lA o t r f y O L t. t V 11 41 1 i t t Henry M M. M Blackmer fugitive American oil magnate Is p pictured ciure f at the right In this first taken since he left the the- United States The French extradition court has refused posed photo to b be C to I of perjury in connection with his income tax returns With Blackmer whose name surrender was him o on a charge S during durina the Teapot dome dome scandals are 1 his attorneys S S. S G. G Archibald left and Henri Gadd prominently center mentioned I High Extradition Court CourtS S Acted on Traditional Principle S 15 j B y S N NEA NA A Service Service- Writer PARIS NEA When NEA-When When the R French ench extradition court refused to handover hand handover over Henry M M. Blackmer fugitive i oil magnate to td American authorities authorities author author- ties it acted according t to French principle s S Despite the fact that Blackmer has hag no passport is wanted at home Joine on a perjury charge harge in connection with his Income tax statements andis and andIs andis Is alleged to know a great deal about the Teapot Dome Dome- scandals he may may- stay in France just as Ion long Ions as ris he likes if it he behaves himself For Tor France Franc is a happy haven baven for political refugees Foreigners who do not find home a comfortable place laco to live may may- remain here hero uness un un- les ess they are wanted for rather rather- e ex- ex i MOST POLITICAL p OFFENDERS In France Fiance today there probably are art thousands of foreigners who couldn't go back to their home countries without getting into trouble Among these are a great many Russians of the old aristocracy aristocracy racy acy with whom th the Soviets would like Ike to deal Almost equal in number are Italians Under tinder t tie the e dis displeasure displeasure dis- dis pleasure of the fascist regime and only bidIng folding their time when they can go back home nome and re reestablish themselves There also are many Spaniards d who ho do not like Primo PrIno de Rivera and who would not be bevery bevry very vry rY cordially received at home Others come from Balkan states Although the majority of these refugees ar are livin living in iry France nce because be because be- be cause o of political opinions others are able able to to remain rel-nain without being Ing molested for minor cI civil 1 offenses offenses of- of I France ha has refused to extradite Blackmer und under r the 1009 extradition extradition tion lon convention between n this COuntry country COun- COun try Irv and the United States This refers only to false oath taken incourt in incourt court but does loes not cover perjury generally Fur Furthermore the he French p perjury law gives a sURD or guilty person immunity three years after the offense Is committed In the he case of af Blackmer the accusation accusation tion lon of false falso oath dates ba back k six years Blackmer's position would now seem Beem secure 0 as M long as h he remains in n Fran France e. e He will enjoy the s same me status as as any American tourist Sentiment here is very much against harassing foreigners foreIgners' who wha mind their own business an and 1 obey the he laws law of ot the the- PLENTY OF MONEY Blackmer is is believed to have I t transferred ja n a considerable I a amount of his wealth which wInch runs runs runs' into millions of dollars to French rench banks Even ven if the States treasury d department should be able to tie up this his large lare holdings in the United Stages Stes he le would have enough to live here in luxury for the rest of his life Ufe S The American fugitive has been living in seclusion trying t to evade publicity and shying at anything that hat looked like a press camera H He makes his headquarters in a a. Ii palatial hotel off the Champs Ely Ely- I sees but he also keeps a a. private little apartment where he can retire re retire retire re- re tire in absolute seclusion Friends of Blackmer believe that he will remain in France Ind in In- In d definitely He cannot travel in jn Europe b because use ca-use he ne has no passport passpOrt pass pass- p port rt and he cannot get ono one one unless h he ic goes back home and clears him him- s self lf