Impersonal Assassination

In the diplomatic service the career of James Theodore Marriner followed an orthodox course. He was third secretary at Stockholm, proceeded methodically to second secretary at Bucharest and, after spending three years in Washington as secretary in the Division of Western European Affairs, at the State Department, became first secretary at Berne. From 1927 to 1931 he headed the Division of Western European Affairs. In 1931 he was made counselor of the Embassy in Paris, soon became better known to U. S. travelers, including members of the Roosevelt family, than many members of the Embassy staff. In the meantime he had acquired a promising reputation by serving with special American delegations abroad and at one period was made charge d'affaires in Switzerland. Rumor had him slated for a minister's post. Last year he went to Beirut, Syria for experience in the consular service. Friends in Paris feared the Syrian climate would be bad for his health.

Another American had also gone to Syria, naturalized Citizen Mejardich Kara-yan who thought the climate would be good for his health. Mejardich Karayan changed his mind, decided to go back to the U. S. When he applied for a visa, Consul General James Theodore Marriner approved it, had it mailed to Mejardich

Mr. Karayan forgot a forwarding address.

Karayan. But Karayan had meanwhile moved. He never received it. One morning last week as the consul general's car slowed to a stop outside his consulate, indignant Mejardich Karayan fired six quick shots from a doorway across the street, killing James Theodore Marriner. To police he explained that he had nothing against Mr. Marriner personally--the consul general just happened to arrive first at the consulate that morning.

Said Franklin Roosevelt, when he heard of the end of Ted Marriner's career: "It is just one of those things that can't be helped."

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