The New York herald., 1921-09-29
BUTLER POINTS U. S.
| DUTIES IN EUROPE
Must Help Rebuild Broken
World, He Says at Colum-
bia Opening.

Or Nicholas Murray Butler. presi-
Gent OF Columbia, University. welcomed
the officers and students yesterday
afternoon at the opening exercises OF
the new academic year. After mapping
out vast programme of Constructive
progress for Columbia. DIR. Bu.aef. out
lined some of his impressions OF after
war Europe gained during his summer
abroad.
To large audience in the university
gymnasium Dr.. Butler described scenes
of devastation on the battle fields and
the severe labor OF the people OF
France and particularly OF the women
of France. in facing the task of recon-
struction. In his first public address
since his return TO this country DR..
Butler stressed the part the United
States must play in the rebuilding of
Europe.
In this task OF reconstruction" said
Or. Butler. America has a part to
play that is both honorable and selfish
and it should play it quickly. 1t is
honorable for the American people TO
give their support. both financial and
moral. to rebuilding a broken world in
which they are chief factor and which
their youth so finely helped TO save
from total overthrow by the forces OF
reaction and Of despotic militsrism. 1t
is also selfish for the American people
TO give this support, because the widely
prevailing economic disorga MIA ton, the
unemployment of hundreds OF thousands
of able bodied and willing men and
women. the nationwide industrial de-
preston and the severe financla prob
iems when confront US day by day
can be satisfactorily dealt with only by
speedily restoring the producing and
ha i1p nf No
European millions.
HE who says that all this is no con-
cern of ours and that we must not be-
come involved in the problems of other
nations and other continents Is both
blind to tho most obvious facts of econ
omic life and deaf to the plainest teach
ings Of American history
DR.. Butler supported his statement. by
referring to number of episodes in
American history where the Unite ]
States had taken an active part in the
affairs OF other nations. closing with a
reference to July 10. 1921. when Presi-
dent Harding invited a group of power
ful nations to send representatives TO
Washington to confer as to how tho
economic burdens of the several peoples
might be lightened as to how the size
and cost of armaments might be reduced,
and as TO how America could aid in
helping on the rule OF right in the prb-
lie affairs OF men.
.He who says and he who teaches
that America is isolated and aloof from
the world" said President Butler. that
American principles and ideals and
American interests are singular and pc
culiar, and that we are not az other
men, is not only un-American but anti
American.
THANK God the influence and the
teachings of Columbia University have
for 167 years had no part or parcel in
any such fatal doctrine as that
More than 1900 students will be in
attendance at the university this year.
This figure does not include summer ses-
sion students. OF whom there were about
15, 900 this year. Increa scd registration.
noted in all the university's departments,
is particularly marked in the graduate
schools, the registrar stated.