COWARDLY MURDER

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXIII, Issue 23, 26 December 1942, Page 5

COWARDLY MURDER

(Rec. 12.30) ' LONDON, Dec. 25. “The cowardly assassination of Harlan was murder in first degree,” said President Roosevelt in a statement. “All the leaders of tho United Nations will agree with that statement, but Nazism, Fascism, and military despotism will hold otherwise. I hope speedy justice will overtake tho murderer.”

According to the United Press political observer, in Washington gathered from this statement that the President believed that the Germans or Italians inspired the assassination, probably because of Darlan’s switch to the Allied side. Washington diplomats agreed that the complex French political situation is now further complicated. They pointed out that the United States acquired enormous prestige in North Atnca through the Eisenhower-Darlan deal of expediency,” but the assassination in America controlled territory could affect situation profoundly. The assassination paves the way for the union of all anti-Axis Frenchmen outside France, observes the New 'York Herald Tribune’s Washington correspondent. The possibility is envisaged that all French will ultimately accept General Giraud as head of a national F’rench movement of liberation. Tho United States originally intended to make General Giraud chief of the French Administration in North Africa, hut General Eisenhower was forced to accept. Darlan to obtain the co-operation of the French military authorities. Darlan’s sudden elimination now makes possible the implementation of the original American plan of placing General Giraud in charge of North Africa. His tremendous prestige both within and without France and his well-known hostility towards the Vkkv Government may succeed in enlisting all Frenchmen behind him.