My first expression must be one of thanks to the city of Belfast - thanks for the high honor today bestowed upon me as the representative of the great fighting force the Western Allies sent to Europe more than a year ago. Even more my thanks are due for the hospitality shown to American soldiers who were stationed here so long. The sojourn of our forces in Northern Ireland will remain a cherished memory in the hearts of many Americans. You received us into your community and into your homes, with a generosity which was evident and sincere. You put us at your ease. You gave us your friendship. For all this we are deeply appreciative.

This global war has taken the American Army to many foreign fields. It was here in Northern Ireland that we first began to concentrate for our share in the attack upon the citadel of continental Europe. From here started the long hard march to allied victory, which led our forces to North Africa, Sicily, the Italian Mainland, Normandy, and finally the dash across Germany. Americans have served beside many other forces - from the British homeland, from the colonies, from the other great members of the British commonwealth of nations, from other allies among the United Nations. It has been a mighty brotherhood of fortitude and courage, consecrated to the pursuit of a righteous cause. Thanks to this common purpose and these united efforts we now share victory on all fronts. These experiences, these friendships, should now serve us well in peace.

To me this ceremony is yet another symbol of the genuine respect and trust which the British and American nations hold toward one another. Quite aside from those things we own in common - language, literature, legal system, fundamental conceptions of government - the American people have a special and a particular respect for the serene determination with which the British nation stood up undaunted in the face of the Nazi blitz. My I be permitted to pay homage to what may be all summed up in a single word, character.

The cities and boroughs of Great Britain have a proud tradition of free government. Historically they have been vigilant of their ancient liberties. They have displayed a sturdy sense of responsibility for their particular communal problems. They have fostered ideals of public virtue and civil consciousness, an awareness of the importance of individual initiative and communal effort. These virtues are similar to the sense of personal responsibility which in both our armies have characterized the individual soldier and the leaders of even the smallest units.

A tremendous step toward world peace will be accomplished if a similar sense of personal responsibility can be acquired by the German people. Our military government over them can not be a purely negative control. Gradually they should be encouraged to build free institutions suitable to their needs. We hope that they will accept and foster that consciousness of the individual’s personal responsibility to think and act and vote which is the very antithesis of the Nazi theory of regimentation. They must absorb the ideal of the moral duty of every citizen to participate in democratic thinking for the salvation of his community and his nation, within an orderly and peaceful world.

My Lord Mayor, in inviting me to return here to become an honorary Burgess you have given one further proof of the ties of affection which bind the American Army to the people of Northern Ireland. I trust that you look upon it, as I do, as a token of our common purpose to work together for a better world.