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La Guardia Charges Bias to Jews in Consular Service

May 23, 1930
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Representative LaGuardia of New York City yesterday in the House charged that Jews are discriminated against by the State Department in making appointments to the foreign consular service. Specifically the Congressman charged that Jewish graduates of Columbia University in New York City who pass the written examinations or the foreign service are rejected on oral examinations before the personnel board.

“Young men whom I know,” said Mr. LaGuardia, “have been rejected by the board, are brilliant and anxious to serve their Government in the Foreign Service, but no matter how high their standing in the written examinations, they have been unable to get by the board.”

The charge was made by Rep. LaGuardia while the House was considering a bill introduced by Representative Linthicum of Maryland, providing for the grading and classification of clerks in the foreign service and readjusting rates of compensation. Several members took issue with Rep. LaGuardia, but the latter declared that he knew the facts and that there could be no question whatever as to discrimination.

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