Student Arrested for Screaming ‘murderer’ and ‘french Hitler’ at Pompidou

An 18 year-old Atlantic City, New Jersey girl momentarily disrupted French President Georges Pompidou’s address to a National Press Club luncheon today. The girl, who identified herself as Eve Berger, a student in international communications at American University in Washington, Jumped to her feet shortly after Pompidou began his speech and screamed “murderer” and “French Hitler.” United States Secret Service agents and Washington police Immediately ejected Miss Berger from the women’s gallery of the Press Club ball room. She was hauled off to Jail for questioning. It could not be immediately learned whether any charges will be filed. The French President continued his speech unruffled, outwardly at least, by the brief incident.

His speech lasted for only seven minutes and dealt with the close ties France has with the United States even though at times there may be a difference of opinion. Following the speech M. Pompidou was asked what steps he thought should be taken to bring peace to the Middle East. He replied “no one person has that solution but peace should be achieved in the shortest possible time.” Pompidou suggested a possible approach: a Four Power conference on the Middle East. Concerning France’s sale of Mirage jets to Libya, he asserted that the only Mirage fighters in Middle East skies were those belonging to Israel. He said he wouldn’t be surprised if he saw Egyptian or even French advisers in Libya. Whether this was a veiled threat remains unclear. Pompidou ended his responses to questions about the Middle East by declaring that “the capital of France is not in Cairo nor is it in Tel Aviv. We are not against Israel. We seek peace in the area.”