Evening star., 1961-07-14
Housing for Envoys

Americans for Democratic Ac-
ton commends the position Of
Chief of Protocol Angler Bid
die Duke that there can be
no real solution to the prob
lem of discrimination in hous-
ing in the District Of Colum-
bia unless all United States
citizens, as well as African
diplomats, can seek shelter
without fear Of discrimina-
ton or humiliation"
Incredible and undignified
as is the situation which
forced representatives Of the
U. S. State Department to
seek pledges from real estate
dealers in the capital of the
foremost democracy of the
world to open their apartment
buildings to African diplo-
mats, it is at least Salutary
that the existence of the
white list" in Washington
is now public knowledge.
This means that the Gov
ernment can no longer sit
idly by and let this practice
continue.
The Washington Chapter Of
ADA now calls on the Presi-
dent to Immediately demand
legislation to erase white
lists" from this city, often
referred to as the heartbeat
Of the free world. New York
City passed a bill Brown
Sharkey Isaacs) outlawing
discrimination in private
housing over four years ago.
Pittsburgh passed an ordi-
nance making discrimination
in private housing illegal in
1859. Seven States-Connect-
icut, Colorado, Massachu-
sets. Minnesota, New York,
Pennsylvania and Oregon
have laws against diScrimina-
ton in private housing. The
National Congress Of the
United States surely should
not be less vigilant than State
legislatures. It is imperative
that Congress either pass leg
islation outlawing discrimina-
tion in Washington private
housing or empower the Dis
trict Commissioners to pass
an ordinance to that effect.
1t is not only essential that
a fair housing bill be passed
because discrimination in the
Nations Capital is injuring
the foreign policy of the
United States. It is absolute
ly essential because discrim-
ination against our own Ne
gro citizens as we'll is un-
democratic, indecent and i'm
moral.
Viva Berl,
President, Washington Chap
ter Americans for Demo-
cratic Action.
50 =
Much has been said in the
newspapers recently about
apartment owners being un-
willing to rent to African dip
lomats, and we have read
about the "browbeating" ses-
sion the State Department
had with the landlords.
What's the matter with our
Government, anyway? Can't
those in command make up
their minds? First they want
to turn control of the District
of Columbia over TO the local
residents, and then they want
to dictate to the local land
owners how they shall man.
age their own property.
Since housing of interna-
tional diplomats is a Feder-
al Government responsibility,
our Government should have
the foresight to acquire con-
troll of enough land in Wash
ington to take care of these
needs without putting the
pressure on individuals to do
the Governments job.
The redevelopment area of
Southwest Washington is al
ready owned by the Govern
ment; therefore, why not re-
develop it for use of new ar
rivals of the diplomatic corps?
And make it attractive
enough to even entice other
diplomats from other parts of
the city. In other words, build
a diplomatic city where they
would all be near together and
could have all the parties and
social gatherings that their
diplomacy calls for, with the
minimum Of travelling. This
area is also handy to the
State Department, right down
Virginia and independence
avenues to the Lincoln Me-
mortal and then only a few
blocks north to the State De-
partment Building.
G. NJ. Johnston.