Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-06-12
PRESIDENT TALKS
PEACE TO CADETS
West Point Address Empha-
sizes Need of Mutual
Understanding.
Nv the Associated Press.

WEST POINT, N. Y, June IL
The greatest current need Of the
world, President Roosevelt asserted
today, is 1.-The assurance OF peace-an
assurance based on mutual under
standing and mutual regard"
Standing before 276 graduates of
the United States Military Academy
at Battle Monument, the Chief Elk
ecutive, who presented the diplomas,
said:
IF you strive at all times to pro-
mote friendship and to discourage
suspicion, to teach respect for the
rights Of others and to decry agrees
sion. to oppose intolerance with
spirit OF mutual helpfulneSs--then,
indeed, your services will be Of full
value to your Government and a
source of satisfaction to yourselves"
The President boarded q special
train shortly after noon to return to
Washington.
Army Chiefs Assemble.
Mfr. Roosevelt, commander in chief
Of the country's armed forces, adj
dressed the future officers of the Army
surrounded by one Of the largest
groups of Army chieftains assembled
in years, including Secretary of War
Dern, Gen. Douglas Macarthur, chief
of staff, and Maj. Gen. William D.
Connor, superintendent Of the Acad-
envy.
I'VE maintain an Army to promote
tranquility" the President said. and
to secure us from aggression, but it
Is so created and so modest in pro-
portion as to furnish proof that no
threat or menace to the rights OF
others Is even remotely intended"
The President also noted the
"priceless blessing of friendship with
ollr neighbors." Mentioning the Naval
Academy, too, he said these two mill
tary institutions of the Nation ARE
the personification of democracy in
the equality of opportunity they af-
ford, uninduenced by prior social
position or economic standing"
Dern arrived Unexpectedly with an
oficial party from Washington yes
terday, and in his honor a special
regimental parade was held. The en-
tire corps, in full-dress uniform,
cleaning with gold braid and starched
white trousers, passed in review.
Graduation parade. the last one for
members of the graduating class, was
held late yesterday on the Plains, with
Maj. Gen. Conner and his staff as
reviewing officers.
After the entire corps had marched
10 the parade grounds the graduating
members stepped to the front and,
thanking the officers, reviewed the three
remaining classes as they marched
back to the barracks.
Plebes Given Recognition.
With the conclusion of the parade
came the formality of recognizing the
plebe class. As the cadets reached the
barracks the second and third class
men turned and shook hands with the
plebes, dropping the traditional Mr."
by which they had addressed the lower
classn1en all year. The plebes were
greeted as equals in the corps for the
first time since they entered the Acad-
envy, last July. sly g. .--
After the graduation exercises today
the new second lieutenants will have
a leave OF absence until September
Is, when they will join the Army sta
lions to which they will be assigned.
A new class of cadets win enter the
Academy on July !.
"As one who was born and reared
within O few miles of West Point,
said the President, II have always
been familiar with the long and
glorious record of the United States
Military Academy; and have always
thought of the officers and cadets
stationed here as my friends and neigh
bors. wish could have been here
to attend in person the brilliant cere-
monies, reviews and the entertain
nnents Of the past few days.
AT this moment we come to the
culmina tion--an event which marks
not only the close Of four years of
for a great career, but
also the induction into the Army Of the
United States Of its annual infusion
of new blood whereby our military
leadership is kept young, forward
looking and virile.
This academy, with its sister school
Of Annapolis, Is the personification
Of democracy in the equality Of oppor-
tunity they afford, uninfiuenced by
prior social position or economic stand
ing. They nurture patriotism and de-
votion to country. They teach that
honor, integrity and the faithful per-
formance of duty are to be valued
above all personal advantage or ad-
vancement. Their success is written
In the long and brilliant record of
service which their graduates rendered
to the Nation. 1t Is true that in your
curriculum you have been studying a
profession-one in which the need OF
specialization has greatly increased in
recent years. But this is true of many
other professions. The development
Of modern civilization calls for special
ization.
Practical Relationships.
'Yet, with specialization it is essen
tial that those who enter upon q pro-
fession, civilian or military, must
eternally keep before their eyes the
practical relationship of their own
profession to the rights, the hopes and
the needs of the whole body of citizens
who make up the Nation. One of the
most difhcult tasks of government to-
day Is to avoid the ACKNOWLEDGMENT Of
any one group and to keep the main
objective of the general good clear and
unimpaired.
The captain of company will fail
Il In thinking only of his company he
forgets the relationship of his COM