HIGHER EDUCATION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20105, 26 March 1928, Page 7

HIGHER EDUCATION

’VARSITY FOR AFGHANISTAN

AN INTERESTING ANNOUNCE MENT.

(By Radio). RUGBY, March 24. The King and Queen of Afghanistan motored yesterday to Oxford, where the honorary degree of Doctor of Civil Law was conferred upon King Arnanullah with traditional ceremony. The proceeds were conducted, as usual, entirely in Latin.

He and Queen Souriya were entertained to luncheon by Lord Birkenhead, High Steward of the University, in the absence, through illness, of Viscount Cave, Chancellor of the University.

Lord Birkenhead made an interesting announcement. He said: "It is, I believe, the purpose of King Amunullah 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 flo jrished near the shores of Oxis in Northern Afghanistan the world-famous university of Bactria. "History relates that this illustrious city of learning was razed to the ground by the all-destroying janghiz Khan, world conqueror, ruthless and unpitying. We at Oxford shall follow the execution of King AmunuUah’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 the 20th century in England to realise what deep-seated difficulties King Amunullah hit's been called on to face, and has steadfastly confronted to prompt the cause of learning in his far-away home.”