Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-12-25
Observers in London
See Dar|an's Post
Going 70 Giraud
Official Sources, However,
Are Silent; Keep Close
Wotch on Developments
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press. -
LONDON, Dec. 25.-0en. Henri
Honore Giraud, an uncompromising
foe Of the Axis, took over "mainte-
nance of order" in French North
Africa today, the Algiers radio an
nounced as diplomatic quarters here
watched closely the aftermath of the
assassination of Admiral Jean
Darlan.
The implications of the brief AL
giers radio announcement were not
apparent here, but some observers
felt that leadership In North Africa
naturally would fall to Gen. Giraud
in the present crisis because OF his
illustrious military career and the
respect with which he is regarded by
almost all Frenchmen. He has been
acting as commander of the French
armed forces fighting side by side
with the Allies In Tunisia.
Whether Gen. Giraud will succeed
Admiral Darlan in his position as
civil administrator in North Africa
and the important function of CO.
operating with the Allied forces in
occupation of North Africa could not
be foreseen here on the basis of
terse, censored reports from Algiers.
Opposed by Fighting French.
Certain it was, however, that the
assassination of Admiral Darlan
had removed from the North AZ
rican picture the one man against
whom the Fighting French leaders
In London had bitterly objected
Whether these objections ulti-
mately would have been overcome
by the general desire of Frenchmen
to unite all factions for greater
strength is uncertain. 1t had been
reported recently that the Fighting
French planned to send a commits
sion to North Africa to investigate
the situation there and the possibil-
tiles of bringing French patriots
together
Both the Fighting French and
official British sources here main
tanned silence on the North African
developments.
There was no immediate reaction
to the assassination from Vichy.
The German radio declared that
"the French traitor, Admiral OAR
Ian, had died death convenient to
the British"
Admiral Darlan said only yester-
day in statement to the French
press in North Africa that union
at once-of all fighting Frenchmen
is absolutely necessary"
Darlan Statement.
The statement follows in part:
There is one task lying ahead of us
which is more important than the
rest. We must win the war.
There are still certain difficulties:
There is still some opposition. Al
though we do not propose to take
brutal measures against those offer
ing resistance, any person that
harms the war effort will be pitiless-
" eliminated.
"All other considerations are of
no Importance.
Effects of the past are slowly dis
appearing. Yesterday we were forced
to wait. Today we are fighting, again.
I'm the Is months when 7 held
the post Of vice prime minister in
the French cabinet nothing OF i'm
portance was handed over to the
Germans. 49,
Sense Of Reality.
political affairs need sense of
reality and not sentimental feelings.
When defeated country stands
alone in the world and when it is at
the mercy Of the conqueror the only
weapon is to negotiate.
1.-The Germans made 1t impossible
for us to carry out strong line of
policy. We negotiated, we tried to
save what We could save.
II realize many Frenchmen fought
the Axis and are still fighting the
enemies of France, each in his own
way.
ut is desirable and I as a good
Frenchman desire, too, that all these
Frenchmen should unite.
I'm any case it is desirable that
these fighting Frenchmen do not
oppose each other because we all
have the same aim-to iberate our
selves.
mo one can be our enemy who is
fighting against Germany.
"Union-at once-of all fighting
Frenchmen Is absolutely necessary.
1t is of no Importance that French
men have rallied round me. Whether
1t is I or some one else does not mat
ter. But it is important that such
q union should be affected"