DOCTOR OF LAW.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 71, 24 March 1928, Page 9

DOCTOR OF LAW.

DEGREE POR KING.

Oxford Honours Afghan's

Monarch.

UNIVERSITY POR KABUL.

(British Official Wireless.)

(Received 11.30 a.m.)

RUGBY, March 23.

The King and Queen of Afghanistan motored to-day to Oxford, where the honorary degree of Doctor Of Civil Law was .conferred upon "Rib Majesty with traditional ceremony. The proceedings were conducted, as usual, entirely in Tj»».iw

The King and Queen Souriya were entertained to luncheon by Lord Birkenhead, the High Steward of the University, in the absence, through 0 f Viscount Cave, Chancellor of the University.

Lord Birkenhead made an interesting announcement, when he said: "It is, I believe, the purpose of King Amanullah to found a university in Kabul, to be the centre of culture and learning in that part of Asia and so revive the glories of the wonderful past. More than 1000 years ago there flourished near the shores of Oxus, in Northern Afghanistan, the world-famed university of Bactria.

"History relates that this illustrious city of learning was razed to the ground by the all-destroying Janghiz Khan, the world conqueror, ruthless and unpitying.

, "Wi in Oxford shall follow the execution of King Amanullah's illuminating conception with warm sympathy and interest. It may even be that the Queen of Afghanistan's brother, who is here among us to-day, as an undergraduate, may live to become the first Vice-Chancellor of this, university. "It is not easy for us in Twentieth Century England to realise what deepseated difficulties King Amanullah has been called on to face and has steadfastly confronted to promote the cause of learning in his far away home."