DEATH OF DARLAN

Timaru Herald, Volume CLIII, Issue 22469, 2 January 1943, Page 5

DEATH OF DARLAN

Twelve Arrests Made

<lO p.m.) LONDON, December 31. Twelve persons have been arrested in Algiers In connection with Admiral Darlan's assassination.

General Glraud announced that the plotters had intended to kill hllself and the American Minister (Mr Frank Murphy). “What I did was merely an interior cleaning. It would only be exciting passions to have international importance to the matter, which is entirely French. Therefore the names of the arrested persons are being withheld. We arrested some people who helped the Allied landings, also some who helped the Germans. I ordered the arrests in order to prevent another outrage like the assassination of Admiral Darlan. I am following the French principle that it is better to prevent than to punish. My one aim is to win the war. There is but one enemy now—Germany.” General Glraud said that the arrested persons were under preventive arrest, and would not be shot.

One report quotes General Glraud as saying that some of his best friends were among those arrested, two of whom were described as "very prominent persons.”

Other sources state that the 12 persons arrested were charged on December 30 with plotting further assassinations. and that they Include four pellce officials, who allegedly had prior knowledge of the plot to assassinate Admiral Darlan, and did not warn their superiors. The arrests were made between 1 a m. and 7 a m. on December 30.

A different agency reports that General Giraud's press conference gave contradictory versions of his answers to the question as to whether any Lavalwapnointees were still holding Jobs in Algiers. Reuter’s correspondent says that General Giraud replied: “I do not think there may be such. I would like to know the names of some of them. Nobody will suppose I have any friendly feelings for Laval.” On the other hand, the British United Press reports General Glraud as saying: "I am not friendly with Laval. I do not believe any of h's men hold Jobs here.” The Columbia Broadcasting System's Algiers correspondent says: “There is an Impression here that the fault of the present Government in North Africa is that it consists of pro-Vichy and antl-De Gaulle men. General Giraud said on December 30 that he did not see any pro-Vichy men in power, but the impression remains, and actions like the arrest of a number of pro-Allied persons do not help to remove It.”