Mr. Roosevelt and Oxford

Abstract

Two striking parallel ceremonies took place at Harvard on June 19. Lord Halifax, British Ambassador to the United States, was given the honorary degree of doctor of law of Harvard University, and in his capacity of chancellor of the University of Oxford, he presided at a special Convocation, in which he conferred the degree of D.C.L. on President Roosevelt. Mr. Roosevelt was advised, on account of his temporary indisposition, not to make the journey from Washington to Harvard, but his friend and military aide, General Edwin Watson, represented him and delivered a stirring message of acknowledgment. In the Latin diploma granting the degree prepared for the occasion, reference was made to the heartening words with which Mr. Roosevelt has encouraged the defenders of liberty and to the material aid which he has given, and in ever-increasing measure is giving, to secure the defeat of lawlessness and aggression among nations, and to the stand he is making for liberty, humanity and law. Mr. Roosevelt's message mentioned the historic precedent of this special Convocation, expressing his pleasure that it “does so in the great cause of preserving the free learning and civil liberties which have grown stone upon stone in our lands”. He concluded with the epigrammatic words: “We and all others who believe as we do would rather die on our feet than live on our knees.”