NORWAY’S TRIBUTE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26772, 15 May 1948, Page 8

NORWAY’S TRIBUTE

MR CHURCHILL HONOURED N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent LONDON, May 13. Oslo messages state that huge crowds in the Norwegian capital gave Mr Churchill the warmest welcome ever accorded any foreign notability. Mr Churchill drove through streets lined with students to receive the honorary degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Oslo University. The whole company in the great marble hall of the university rose when Mr and Mrs Churchill entered, and rose again when the rector of the university, Professor Mohr, began his speech with the words. “You ate welcome to Norway.” Paying tribute to Mr Churchill as an architect of victory, Professor Mohr continued: “ This is a truly radiant title of honour, but to us Norwegians it seems a little cold and technical. You were an untiring champion in the fight for freedom, and our unshaken banner-bearer at a time when the might of barbarism fell on our part of the world and on our beloved Fatherland. For us, you stand not only as the spokesman, but as the personification of your people, their history, and their noblest traditions. “ Your inspiring words not only gave us courage and confidence, but also a feeling of obligation and a burning desire to do our duty in the gigantic fight for everything that makes life worth while. We do not forget that when every speck of truth had vanished and lies surrounded us, you alone were brave enough to tell us the infallible truth with steadfastness and unshakeable spirit.” Asking the dean and the faculty to confer the degree, the rector described Mr Churchill as “ the truly grea* and honourable Winston Spencer Churchill, who wrote history made history, and lived history.” Replying to the rector’s address, Mr Churchill said: “We went through those /years of torment until we emerged together. We went through those years shoulder to shoulder, and now for the rest of the journey we will walk hand in hand in peace and friendship. Norway was struck to the ground. But you may strike the physical body of a man to the ground, and his soul goes marching on.”