Evening star., 1942-11-25
President Arroyo
Receives Degree
From 6. W. u.
Ecuodor's Executive
Sees Universities as
Links in Democracy


yesterday conferred the honorary
degree of doctor of laws on Presi-
dent Carlos Alberto Arroyo del Rio
of Ecuador in brief but impressive
special convocation ceremonies at
the United States Chamber Of Com
merce.
Praised by university officials as
educator, lawyer and statesman,
President Arroyo responded extem-
poraneously to declare universities
of North and South America were
like golden chain," uniting the
Americas in ideals of democracy.
The visiting chief of state was
praised in the citation read by DR..
Cloyd Heck Marvin, president of the
university as follows:
Distinguished educator, illustri-
GUS lawyer and eminent statesman;
exemplar to his people of the virtues
that build the home and the state;
staunch advocate of inter-American
solidarity, his beliefs and actions
mark him as being in every fiber a
true citizen of Ecuador and COM
plete American"
Recalls Solidarity Pledge.
DR.. Marvin in remarks prior to
conferring the degree said the Ecua-
dorian Ambassador. Capt. Colon
Eloy Alfaro. more than two years
ago had expressed the belief that
I'VE were to suffer because of our
philosophy of government" 1t was
his belief, continued DR.. Marvin,
that we could only attain victory
by the Americas holding sincerity
to our democratic philosophy OF
government.
He told me that his state was
ready to stand by and was eager to
participate in any action which the
states of the Americas saw fit to
take to protect their philosophy OF
government. He described certain
encroachments on our shores and
suggested the willingness of his gov
ernment to help the United States
protect the canal and our western
shores.
"Since then," said DR.. Marvin, "the
bases have become reality on land
of Ecuador The spirit Of the people
who backed these statements can be
readily understood If one knows the
freedom Of the ntra-mountain
valleys and the openness Of the
shore line of the nation which we
are privileged to recognize"
Referring to giving and taking
of pledges based on intimate under
standing of a personal handclasp
and a meeting of minds" DR.. Marvin
characterized this as 1.-The basis OF
democracy"
Reason Guides Democracies.
For democracy" he continued,
'is founded on faith in reason; the
rule of reason in human affairs. To
believe in democracy means that we
have a knowledge and belief that
human problems must be solve not
bv passion or force, but by reason
alone. This. we, the Americas. are
doing, and this way will show to the
world that democratic ideals are
best. and democratic faith true.
81 know that the academic world
as we'll as the world of friendship
approves the recognition which we
bestow. We are able to do 1t be-
cause your state and our state be-
lieve in liberty"
Responding in Spanish, President
Arroyo expressed deep apprecla ton
to the president of the university
and the faculty for the great honor
conferred on me-" He emphasized,
however, that he understood the
honor was to be received not so
much as a personal tribute to him
self, as to his own country and to
the ideal of Americanism."
Referring to honorary degrees con-
ferred on him by universities IN
Bogota, Colombia, Mexico City. and
in Washington, he likened the IN
stitutions to "a golden chain,
token, to unite the countries OF
America" He would endeavor, he
said, to serve the ideal OF democ-
racy," and to become true servant
of democracy" He characterized
the honor to himself as demon
stration of friendship to my coun-
try
Praises University.
DR.. Arroyo praised George Wash
ington University as "illustrious both
in name and in personnel" Pointing
to the words Doctor Of Laws IN
Spanish as meaning "Dr. Of Right"
the visiting President declared that
right has a high place among us
all. the nations Of the Western
Hemisphere"
Music was by the United States
Marine Band Orchestra. The faculty
in caps and gowns entered the hall
in professional march, taking re-
served seats in the auditorium. The
invocation was by the Rev. DR..
Frederick Brown Harris, chaplain OF
the Senate, who invoked divine
blessing on the 'co-operation of good
neighbors." Elmer Louis Kayser,
doop of ,,pivcrcjfv students WAS