But even the CRIMSON, which only a week before had editorially opposed all defense measures as constituting steps toward war, published on Commencement day an editorial, which while castigating the Ivy Orator's remarks, nevertheless admitted that some defense steps might be necessary.

One of the popular subjects for dinner table conversation and letters to the editor during the past year has been, "What's the matter with the younger generation?" The answer probably is, "Nothing."

At Harvard the undergraduate's attitude toward the war is the product of many factors. In part it is an idealistic point of view, specifically focussed on America. American culture and civilization have assumed an ever-larger place in the curriculum during the past few years, with President Conant heading the movement at Harvard. Undergraduates have tended to resent any plea to save England or France unless this were the only way to save America.

Realism and Cynicism

In part it is a realistic and cynical point of view. Students feel that we are repeating the steps this country followed in 1915-17, and are being drawn into another futile war to make the world safe for democracy. And they resent appeals to their altruism because they know that men can fight altruistically in bad wars as well as good ones.

What student opinion will be during the coming year is hard to predict. The Faculty over the summer has to a great extent coordinated its pro-defense activities through the American Defense Harvard Opinion.

One straw in the wind is the announcement that a student group will sponsor a meeting on Friday, September 27, open to "all students who believe that the United States must immediately arouse and prepare itself for the seemingly inevitable war with Nazi Germany, (2) that we must make ourselves ready for the impending conflict, and (3) that many are unaware of the gravity and immediacy of the danger to our national existence."