Evening star., 1942-06-11
Stimson and Knox
GET Harvard Degrees
Along With Nelson
Navy Secretary Says
U. S. Should Not Force
Democracy on Others
By tie Associated Press.

By tie Associated Press
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. June IL
The civilian chiefs of the Army, the
Navy and the War Production Board
Secretaries Stimson and Knox and
WPB Chairman Donald M. Nelson
were awarded honorary doctor OF
laws degrees by Harvard today at
the university's 29lst commence
ment. held in an atmosphere
charged with the electricity of war.
Secretary Knox said in a COM
mencement address that this Ma
tion, in the postwar period, should
refrain from attempting to enforce
its system of democracy on all the
peoples of the world in order to
insure their freedom.
Democracy, we think, is the best
possible soil in which to cultivate
human freedom. but that is not
necessarily so" he asserted. "Au that
we can do, all that we should at
tempt, in the fateful years which
will follow the conclusion OF the
war. is to help create an era OF
tranquility: to foster wholesome
economic order; to elevate living
standards and reduce want and pri-
vation; to promote the spread OF
education and understanding; to re-
build, with all of the wisdom We can
command a fabric of international
law, and to compel its observance,
by force If necessary.
Given this" he added, the peo-
pies OF the world must first develop
and then maintain bv their own ef-
forts the freedoms they would en-
joy"
Asserting that I'VE can win the
victory and still lose the war;" Mr..
Knox said we should insure our
selves against new aggressions by
helping maintain an adequate mil
itary force to police the world,
but he declared we should not seek
to make America "a happy island
of prosperity in an ocean OF pow
erty."
Stimson Lauds President.
In an address at the alumni
luncheon Secretary Stimson asserted
that the courage and determination
OF President Roosevelt were fur
nishing the leadership which will
achieve the final victory of the war"
His clarity Of foresight and his
unfailing grasp Of the essential
strategic factors Of a worldwide
struggle, YOU have all been able to
follow" the War Department chief
said. But only those who have been
his Heutenants in the struggle can
know the close personal attention
with which he has vitalized every
important decision. And only they
can fully appreciate the courage
and determination he has shown IN
time OF threatened disaster. or the
loyalty and consideration by which
he has won the support OF all his
war associates. Out OF these charac-
teristics comes the leadership which
will achieve the final victory
Others who received honorary de-
Efees were Gov Leverett Saltonstall
Of Massachusetts, and Frederick P.
Keppel. president Of the Carnegie
Corp, New York City, doctors OF
laws; Raymond Gram Swing, radio
commentator, master Of arts: Adolph
Meyer. professor emeritus Of psychi-
airy at Johns Hopkins University,
doctor Of science; Alfonso Reyes,
professor of Spanish literature at the
University OF Mexico. doctor Of let
ters; Rene J. Dubos, bacteriologist Of
New York City. doctor OF science;
Reginald A. DAILY. Sturgis Cooper
professor of geology at Harvard, doc
tor of science; jeremiah D. M. Ford,
Smith professor of the French and
Spanish languages at Harvard. doc
tor Of letters; Edward w. Forbes.
director OF the Fogg Art Museum of
Harvard, and Paul J. Sachs, profess
sor Of fine arts at Harvard, doctors
of arts.
Degrees were awarded to 1926
seniors and graduate students.