George C. Marshall’s Acceptance Speech on the occasion of the award of the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, December 10, 1953.

On 10 December in the university Aula, just as Marshall was accepting the prize from Dr. Hambro, vice-chairman of the committee, some communist journalists interrupted the ceremony, dropping leaflets from the balcony and shouting, “We protest!” King Haakon VII indignantly rose to his feet and led the audience in applause for Marshall. The general turned to Hambro and commented drily that in his own country he was more accustomed to such treatment from the anticommunists.*

Your Majesty, Your Highness, Members of the Nobel Committee, Ladies and Gentlemen,

I accept this honour with profound gratitude as it has been conferred upon me by the Nobel Committee. And I do it not merely for myself, more specially for the American people who, alone, made possible the authority and possible the funds which made the European recovery program a reality. Thank you very much.

* Text cited by courtesy of Irwin Abrams from his book The Nobel Peace Prize Laureates. An Illustrated Biographical History 1901-2001. Science History Publications, USA 2001.