Evening star., 1953-09-29
LoophoIe in Zonino Law

IO0PnoIe IN Z0nlnQ Law
Diplomats in Canada's capital Of
Ottawa do not get the same treatment
they do in Washington when 1t comes
to residential coming laws.
In Washington. such local regulations
can apparently be overlooked by foreign
missions which simply claim "diplo-
matte immunity"
Canada'S new pint-Size "Pentagon''
now going UP on Massachusetts, avenue
in violation Of the Districts coming
laws is an example of Washington's
easy treatment.
In Ottawa, however. the situation is
much different. In the Canadian capi-
tai, diplomatic row is obliged to adhere
to district residential coming bylaws.
This is particularly so in Ottawas resi-
dental suburb of Rockcliffe Park, OF
tawa's gold-plated square mile, which
is limited to residences only.
Rockcliffe's bylaw No. 4618 specifically
prohibits any person or persons from
having offices in any house in the sub
urb. And no Office buildings may be
erected. Besides barring doctors, den
lists and the like, from having Offices
in the Rockcliffe homes, foreign diplo-
AAoVo SOAAAC AA4NOA t44Ao NoA4s
Only last year. one foreign embassy
in Ottawa was obliged to comply with
this bylaw. In 1914, when Turkey
opened an embassy in Ottawa, it rented
suite in the Chateau Laurier Hotel.
There 1t remained until last year when
it was forced to find larger quarters.
The Turkish government was on the
point OF buying rambling mansion in
a rrYHai ainIN NA1n %r 1a@A
only as residence for its ambassador,
but also as embassy Offices
But Rockcliffe's bylaw 4618 inter-
vened. The Turkish Embassy could use
the mansion as residence for its am
bassador but not as embassy Offices as
well Rockcliffe's village council ruled.
Nothing could bulge the village
council from its decision, not even
behind-th -the-scenes pressure from Can
ada's External Affairs Department
which pointed out that the Turkish
government could buy the property as
a residence. and then having done that,
could use it as embassy offices as well,
claiming diplomatic immunity"
The Turkish government was forced
to find place elsewhere in the city
where zoning bylaws were not so strict.
The sole exception to the Rockcliffe
Park Zon1ng bylaw is the case presented
by the Swedish Legation. But this lega-
ton established its Offices in Rockcliffe
in 1943 during the war under Federal
Order-in-C Council waving all bylaws in
Ottawa restricting building for the
wars duration.
Since the war. Rockcliffe Park has
had it's way. Embassy residences are
welcomed But embassy offices are
strictly taboo. And as far as Rockcliffe's
council is concerned. if the diplomats
don't like that, they can go elsewhere
in Ottawa. Brian OLeary,
The Press Gallery, House of
Commons, Ottawa, Canada.
am sure that many residents of the
District will be grateful to The Star
for taking up the question of zoning
laws and diplomatic immunity in con-
nection with the Canadian Ministry of
Defense Office building being put up at
2450 Massachusetts, avenue.
Although it is quite true that no
American citizen could have obtained a
permit for erecting such building in
the residential district of Massachusetts,
avenue, foreign countries do not have
to obtain building permits The start
ling fact is that the Canadians started
building last July with no building per-.
NIT at ALL
This is matter of serious concern
to residents of Washington. Had we
required the Canadians to obtain
building permit their plans would have
been filed at the District Building. This
would have given District residents
chance to protest. r.
The Star has done public service
by bringing to public notice what seems
to many property owners sad misuse
of diplomatic privilege. I refer to the
construction of an Office building in a
residentially Zoned area by the Ca
madam government.
1t is not too much to ask of foreign
governments which are accorded tax
exemptions that they at least do not
lower the value of taxpaying property
by flouting local zoning building regu-
lations. The Canadians are not the
only embassy offenders.
Eva Robertson Hinton.
Since you have taken up the pros
and cons regarding the erection of the
new building of the Canadian Gov
.ernment on Massachusetts, avenue, it
seems splendid time to bring before
the residents of Washington the ex-
emption given to diplomatic missions,
based on reciprocity, which enables
them to turn houses in restricted resi-
Dental areas into chancery buildings,
which are Offices no matter how you
look at the problem.
The people along Massachusetts, ave-
nue. should be glad the Canadian gov
ernment is putting up such hand
some building, for undoubtedly hav-
ing spent so much, they will maintain
it in proper order. They should well
come the fact it has parking space in
the underground floor. These MaSsa-
chusetts avenue residents should walk
around the Kalorama area, which is