MacArthur Denied Honorary Degree

The University will definitely withhold the honorary degree it has thrice offered General Douglas MacArthur, even though the General has expressed willingness to come to Cambridge this June to receive it at Commencement exercises.

A Corporation spokesman stated yesterday that the University governing body does not make a practice of re-offering an honorary degree to a recipient who has a chance to pick up his degree and does not do no. The Corporation apparently felt the General had such a chance in 1949.

"MacArthur had a perfect opportunity to come in 1949," the Corporation member stated. "He was here in this country. He had no legitimate excuse, so we withdrew the offer."

The former Allied Supreme Commander in Japan was earlier voted a degree in 1946 and again in 1948. The supposition was that it would be available for him any commencement he chose to pick it up.

Earlier this week, MacArthur's aide-de-camp Colonel Lawrence Huff told the CRIMSON that the General would be "delighted to receive his honorary degree this year, but he has not yet received an invitation." Last year, Huff made the public statement that the Hero of Bataan would be "to busy to come to Cambridge to pick up his degree." Apparently, he would not have received a degree even if he had been free to come.

In 1946, General Elisonhower, General Omar Bradley, and Admiral Ernest J. King, who were offered honorary degrees with MacArthur, received them. But MacArthur was detained in Japan. At that time he sent a telegram, read to the gathered Commencement crowd, expressing his regret at being absent.

When the Corporation renewed the offer in 1948, the General was still abroad, but he had been called home before June of 1949. He chose to make a speech in the South rather than receive his degree on that date.

The Corporation spokesman, who asked that his name be withhold, asserted that the University would not continue offering a degree if the recipient would not come to pick it up. University policy prohibits awards except in person and only on the appointed date.

Last night Huff glumly admitted in New York, "We haven't heard a thing." General MacArthur, who is currently chairman of the board of the Remington-Rand Corporation, could not be reached for comment.