Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-12-25
Roosevelt Brands
Act Murder in
First Degree

The hand or a christmas eve
assassin, abruptly ending the
career of Admiral Jean Darlan
yesterday, ended also an inter-
national argument over the
usefulness of the former Vichy
leader to the United Nations
cause in French Africa.
The assassin's bullets, however,
injected a new element of violence
into situation already complicated
and delicate, and caused grave
anxiety to Government leaders here.
President Roosevelt promptly
recognized the menace of such an
act in a statement denouncing it as
a cowardly murder in the first de-
gree" and calling for swift and just
retribution.
Observers familiar with the role
assassins have played in the spread
of war and terror throughout
Europe watched intently for further
developments which might indicate
whether Admiral Darlan's murder
was:
l. An isolated act of personal or
political vengeance, or
2. The first of a series of assassi-
nations calculated to create an at
mosphere of turbulence and terror
in French Africa compelling Ameri-
cans. French and British forces
there to concentrate on mainte-
nance of internal order.
Motives Not Clear.
Should the latter be the case, the
threat to Allied hopes of driving
the Axis out of Tunisia would be
grave and immediate.
1t was far from clear what mo-
tlves lay behind the Staying or
what persons, factions or enemy
intriguers have hand in it.
One fact on which most reports
agreed was that the assassin was a
young man-perhaps 20 or 22-and
this description had a most ia
miliar ring. 1t suggested the typical
political assassin who has figured
in so many tales of intrigue, revolt
and terror in post-192O Europe
the fanatical young gunman of the
Nazi, Fascist or Iron Guard school,
However, the Algiers commune
ques indicated authorities still were
uncertain whether Italian or Ger
man inspiration lay behind the
deed.
White House Statement.
There was no comment from the
State Department, but President
Roosevelt interrupted a quiet Christ
mas eve observance in the White
House to issue this statement:
THE cowardly assassination of
Admiral Darlan Is murder in the
first degree.
AL leaders of all the United Ma
lions will agree with that state
ment.
Naziism and Fascism and mill
tary despotism hold otherwise. I
hope that speedy justice will over
take the murderer or murderers of
Admiral Darlan."
Fighting French officials here were
shocked by the news of Admiral
Darlan's death, but hesitated, pend
ing receipt of fuller information
from Algiers, to suggest any ex-
PLANTATION OF. to attempt any evalua-
ton OF its possible consequences.
They showed interest in a report
that Gen. Jean Marie Bergeret of
the Imperial Council in North Africa
had APPEALED to all Frenchmen to
unite now in the fight against the
Axis, but they withheld comment.
Nor did they express any opinion
on the possibility that Gen. Henri
Honore Giraud, commander of
French forces ip North Africa,
might win Fighting French support
as successor to Admiral Darlan.
Mission Arrives Here.
Members of a French military
supply mission, who arrived in
Washington from North Africa a
few hours before Admiral Darlan's
assassination was announced, could
not be reached for comment.
The mission, headed by Gen. Emile
Bethouart, was understood to have
come here to advise War Depart
(see COMMENT, Page A-2J