Ask the Scholar
Document scope · 1 page
Scholar
Ask about this object, its catalog metadata, its source description, or the page inventory.
For page-specific OCR and visual context, open one of the page chats.
Source Description
This file contains material relating to United Nations Conference on Human Settlements, Habitat Forum
.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
1133469
label
5/24/76 - International Real Estate Federation Congress
core
doc
dtoType
document
citationUrl
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
1133469
sourceUrl
contentType
document
title
5/24/76 - International Real Estate Federation Congress
description
This file contains material relating to United Nations Conference on Human Settlements, Habitat Forum
.
citationUrl
collections
Carla A. Hills Speeches
Speeches
subjects
Capitalism
Industries
International conferences
Local government
Population trends
Real property
Reclamation of land
Urban policy
iiifBase
thumbnailUrl
largeImageUrl
imageCount
1
hasImages
yes
source
import
hasTranscription
no
Source extras
naId
1133469
coverageEndDate
day
24
logicalDate
1976-05-24
month
5
year
1976
coverageStartDate
day
24
logicalDate
1976-05-24
month
5
year
1976
levelOfDescription
fileUnit
recordType
description
ocrSource
nara-archive
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
document
url
mediaId
f9b498faffb13899
ocrText
The original documents are located in Box 2, folder "5/24/76 - International Real Estate
Federation Congress" of the Carla A. Hills Speeches at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential
Library.
Copyright Notice
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of
photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Gerald Ford donated to the United
States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.
Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public
domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to
remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid
copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
FINAL #64
INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE FEDERATION CONGRESS
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
MAY 24, 1976
THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME TO YOUR 27TH CONGRESS.
PRESIDENT FORD ASKED ME TO EXTEND HIS WARM WELCOME TO
YOU, AS YOU CONVENE, HERE, IN THE UNITED STATES FOR THE 13TH
TIME IN YOUR HISTORY. AND HE ASKED ME TO AGAIN EXPRESS HIS
REGRET FOR BEING UNABLE TO JOIN YOU IN PERSON.
ONE OF THE GREAT JOYS OF MY OFFICE AS SECRETARY OF HUD
HAS BEEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET AND KNOW so MANY AMERICAN
REALTORS.
TODAY, THAT PLEASURE IS MULTIPLIED BY THE 35 NATIONS OF
THE PROFESSION REPRESENTED HERE IN SAN FRANCISCO.
FRANKLY, I LIKE POSITIVE PEOPLE -- THE MOVERS AND THE
DOERS -- WHO GET ON WITH THE WORK OF THE WORLD REGARDLESS OF
THE ODDS, IN SPITE OF THE DOOM-SAYERS, AND IN THE FACE OF
RETARDING STRICTURES. IT WAS THE REALTORS' UNDAUNTED
OPTIMISM, IN THE DEPTH OF THE AMERICAN HOUSING INDUSTRY'S
RECENT CRISIS THAT HELPED PROVIDE THE SPARK OF INDUSTRY
SPIRIT LEADING TO THE DRAMATIC RECOVERY OF THE PAST 12 MONTHS
FORD & LIBRARY DERALD
Digitized from Box 2 of the Carla A. Hills Speeches at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
-2-
I NEED HARDLY TELL YOU WHAT THAT KIND OF UNQUENCHABLE
EXURBERANCE DOES FOR THE MORALE OF AN EMBATTLED SECRETARY OF
HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT!
BUT, THERE IS ANOTHER QUALITY ABOUT REALTORS, AS A
WHOLE, WHICH IS NOT ONLY IMPORTANT TO ME, IN MY JOB, BUT
WHICH IS VITAL TO THE FUTURE OF HUMANITY. AND, THAT IS,
YOUR INSTINCTIVE ABILITY TO LOOK AHEAD AT THE NEEDS OF THE
FUTURE, AND YOUR ENTHUSIASM FOR ADAPTING TO THE DEMANDS OF
THE EVER-CHANGING TIMES.
THAT YOU FIND COMMONALITY HERE AT THIS CONGRESS, WHILE
SUCCESSFULLY PURSUING YOUR PROFESSIONS UNDER 35 DIFFERENT
SETS OF NATIONAL RULES -- AND MYRIAD LOCAL ORDINANCES -- IS
PROOF INDEED OF YOUR VERSATILITY, YOUR CREATIVITY AND SHEER
ENDURANCE.
THE PART YOU ALREADY HAVE PLAYED -- IN THE REBIRTH OF
INNER-CITIES STRIKEN BY POVERTY AND REBUILDING WHOLE CITIES
DEVASTATED BY WAR -- TESTIFIES TO YOUR CREDENTIALS FOR
PROVIDING NEEDED INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP AS THE WORLD MOVES
INTO THE 21st CENTURY.
-3-
You MEET IN CONGRESS AT THE EXACT MOMENT IN HISTORY
WHEN THE ATTENTION OF THE WORLD IS RIVETED ON THE FIRST
UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON HUMAN SETTLEMENTS. THE QUALITIES
WHICH HAVE PLACED YOU -- AS INDIVIDUALS AND AS A PROFESSION --
AS LEADERS IN A VITAL INTERNATIONAL INDUSTRY, NOW ARE SORELY
NEEDED BY PEOPLE WHOSE VERY SURVIVAL IS DEPENDENT ON THE
DECISIONS OUR WORLD WILL MAKE IN AREAS CLOSEST TO YOUR OWN
AREAS OF SPECIAL EXPERTISE.
YOUR LEADERSHIP IS CHALLENGED NOT ONLY BY THE FUTURE
IMPOUNDERABLES OF FINITE RESOURCES VERSUS INFINITE GROWTH --
AND THE CONCOMITANTS OF RICH VERSUS POOR NATIONS, MAN-MADE
VERSUS NATURAL ENVIRONMENTS -- BUT BY THE QUITE THINKABLE
PROPOSITION THAT MUCH OF WHAT WE ACCEPT AS "STANDARD PRACTICE"
TODAY WILL NOT HAVE CREDENCE IN THE REAL WORLD OF TOMORROW.
IN TRUTH, THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT A GREAT DEAL OF OUR
CONVENTIONAL THINKING ALREADY IS ROOTED TO "NORMS" THAT NO
LONGER EXIST. AND IT IS THAT EVIDENCE -- GROWING WITH EVERY
PASSING DAY -- WHICH LED TO ESTABLISHMENT OF THE UNITED NATIONS
CONFERENCE IN VANCOUVER STARTING A WEEK FROM TODAY.
-4-
SINCE YOU WILL HAVE STRONG ORGANIZATIONAL REPRESENTATION
AT THE HABITAT FORUM IN TANDEM WITH THE CONFERENCE -- AND
MANY OF YOU WILL BE THERE, PERSONALLY -- I'D LIKE TO DEVOTE
MY REMARKS, HERE, TO SOME OF THE BASICS OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS
IN THE LATE 20TH CENTURY; THE UNITED STATES POSITIONS TO BE
TAKEN ON THESE ISSUES; AND YOUR ROLE, AS INTERNATIONAL MEMBERS
OF THE REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY IN THE ULTIMATE RESOLUTION OF
HUMAN SETTLEMENTS PROBLEMS.
FOR THE FIRST TIME -- ALTHOUGH WE SHOULD BE ABASHED BY
THE VERY FACT THAT IT IS A "FIRST" -- THE WORLD WILL BE
CONSIDERING THE NOT-VERY-UNIQUE IDEA THAT EVERYTHING IN, AND
ON, THIS LIVING PLANET IS INTERRELATED WITH EVERYTHING ELSE.
ALTHOUGH THE CONCEPT IS OLDER THAN PLATO, THE EXTENT OF
THE PERIL INVOLVED IN TREATING THE ELEMENTS OF LIFE AS
ENTITIES WAS NOT PERCEIVED BY MOST PEOPLES UNTIL VERY RECENTLY
-- WHEN THE ON-RUSH OF THE MAN-MADE ENVIRONMENT, INCLUDING
HIS MULTIPLYING PROGENY, STARTED ON ITS INEVITABLE COLLISION
COURSE WITH THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT.
-5-
YET, EVEN TODAY, WHEN THE RECOGNITION OF THIS TRUTH HAS
GONE FAR BEYOND THE THINK TANKS AND INTO THE PUBLIC DOMAIN --
MUCH OF WHAT IS DONE IN THE HUMAN SETTLEMENTS OF THE WORLD
IS BASED ON THE FRAGMENTED SECTORAL VIEWS OF MAN AND NATURE
THAT WERE POPULAR IN THE PAST -- HOUSING AS RELATED TO
SHELTER; FOOD AS RELATED TO AGRICULTURE; WATER AS RELATED TO
WATER SOURCES; EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES AS RELATED TO NUMBERS
OF STUDENTS; EMPLOYMENT AS RELATED TO AVAILABLE MANPOWER;
TRANSPORTATION AS RELATED TO TRAFFIC. AND THE INTERRELATION
OF ELEMENTS -- EITHER IN CONCERT OR CONTEST -- IS BASED, FOR
THE MOST PART, ON OBVIOUS CONNECTIONS, SO NATURAL AS NOT TO
BE IGNORED,
A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO SECTORAL THINKING OF THE PAST,
OF COURSE, WAS DUE IN SOME MEASURE TO THE IMBALANCE OF
POPULATION THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, AND THE RELATIVE PAUCITY,
UNTIL RECENT YEARS, OF GLOBAL COMMUNICATION.
TODAY, WE MUST THINK NOT ONLY OF THE INTERRELATION OF
ALL LIFE-SUSTAINING ELEMENTS AS THEY RELATE TO THE PEOPLE OF
A REGION OR A COUNTRY OF THE WORLD -- BUT ELEMENTS AND ALL
PEOPLE AS THEY RELATE TO THE WHOLE PLANET EARTH.
-6-
THUS, I WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON SOME OF THE MAJOR
ISSUES I SEE EMERGING FROM THE CURRENT DRAFT OF THE DOCUMENTS
PREPARED FOR THE CONFERENCE ON HUMAN SETTLEMENTS.
ONE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE CURRENT DRAFT READS THAT:
"ALL COUNTRIES SHOULD ESTABLISH A NATIONAL POLICY ON THE
DISTRIBUTION OF POPULATION AND ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES OVER THE
NATIONAL TERRITORY."
WE AT HUD ADDRESSED THIS SUBJECT IN CONGRESSIONAL
TESTIMONY LAST FALL. WE EMPHASIZED THE FOLLOWING THEMES:
FIRST, OUR MOST IMPORTANT CONCERN IN NATIONAL GROWTH
POLICY IS TO SECURE A HEALTHY AND GRADUALLY EXPANDING
NATIONAL ECONOMY. A HEALTHY ECONOMY, PROVIDING AMPLE
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND GROWING REAL INCOME, IS THE
SOURCE OF MATERIAL WELL-BEING WHICH OUR PEOPLE DRAW UPON
TO REALIZE THEIR ASPIRATIONS AND ACHIEVE THE QUALITY OF
LIFE AS THEY DEFINE IT,
-7-
SECOND, THE PRIVATE SECTOR HAS BY FAR THE GREATEST
IMPACT ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF POPULATION AND EMPLOYMENT
IN THE UNITED STATES. WE BELIEVE THAT, IN GENERAL, THE
PRIVATE DECISIONS OF THE PEOPLE OPERATING THROUGH OPEN
MARKETS ALLOCATE GOODS, RESOURCES, AND THE PEOPLE THEMSELVES
MORE EFFICIENTLY AND WITH MORE SATISFACTION FOR ALL THAN
DOES ANY ALTERNATIVE METHOD.
THIRD, LOCAL AND STATE GOVERNMENTS SHOULD TAKE THE
LEAD IN PUBLIC EFFORTS TO PLAN FOR GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS.
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE BEST EQUIPPED TO PLAN FOR LAND
USE AND PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT AND TO PROVIDE COMMUNITY
FACILITIES AND SERVICES WHICH AFFECT THE DISTRIBUTION OF
PEOPLE AND JOBS ACCORDING TO LOCAL COMMUNITY GOALS, THESE
GOVERNMENTS HAVE THE POWER TO ZONE, TO ISSUE PERMITS, TO
TAX AND TO INVEST. THEY ALSO HAVE THE GROWING CAPABILITY
TO EXERCISE SUCH POWERS IN ORDER TO MANAGE COMMUNITY GROWTH.
-8-
THE STATES ARE PARTICULARLY WELL SUITED TO MANAGING
GROWTH BECAUSE OF THEIR SPECIAL PLACE IN OUR FEDERAL SYSTEM.
STATES COMBINE METROPOLITAN PERSPECTIVES. THEY ALSO CAN
TAX, REGULATE AND INVEST IN WAYS THAT WILL INDUCE NEW
INDUSTRIES TO DEVELOP IN PARTICULAR AREAS AND TO INFLUENCE
WHERE LAND DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC GROWTH MAY TAKE PLACE
WITHIN A STATE. OUR STATES HAVE TAKEN MANY INNOVATIVE STEPS
TO FASHION GROWTH AND SETTLEMENT POLICIES.
AND, FOURTH, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD ENCOURAGE
STATE AND LOCAL SETTLEMENT POLICY EFFORTS.
ANOTHER RECOMMENDATION FROM THE CURRENT DRAFT OF THE
HABITAT CONFERENCE DOCUMENTS READS THAT: "EXPERIENCE SHOWS
THAT THE RENEWAL OR REHABILITATION OF EXISTING HUMAN SETTLEMENTS
OFTEN LEADS TO THE DISPLACEMENT OF LOW INCOME POPULATIONS
FROM THEIR CHIEF SOURCES OF INCOME AND CAN ACTUALLY RESULT
IN THE DESTRUCTION OF THE ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL FABRIC OF
ENTIRE neighborhoods."
WE ARE CONCERNED THAT THIS LANGUAGE MAY ENCOURAGE SOME
COUNTRIES TO GIVE UP ON SAVING THEIR CITIES AND TO WASTE
PRECIOUS RESOURCES ON BUILDING SPRAWLING SUBURBS.
-9-
IN THE FACE OF SHRINKING RESOURCES, OUR FIRST NEED
IS TO PRESERVE WHAT WE NOW HAVE IN PLACE, AND TO RECLAIM
AND RECYCLE THAT WHICH IS NOT IRRETRIEVABLY LOST.
WE HAVE LEARNED FROM THE MISTAKES OF URBAN RENEWAL.
IN CITIES ALL ACROSS OUR COUNTRY, AS ONE OF OUR FILMS
SUBMITTED TO THE CONFERENCE WILL DEMONSTRATE, WE ARE
LEARNING HOW TO PRESERVE AND RESTORE THE VITALITY, CHARM,
AND SPIRIT OF URBAN NEIGHBORHOODS.
THE NUMBERS TELL US WE HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE.
IN 1900, 4 OUR OF EVERY 5 PEOPLE IN THE WORLD LIVED
IN RURAL AREAS. By THE END OF THIS CENTURY, TWO-THIRDS
TO FOUR-FIFTHS WILL LIVE IN URBAN ENVIRONMENTS. ONLY
100 YEARS AGO THERE WERE TWO CITIES WITH POPULATIONS
EXCEEDING ONE MILLION, TODAY THERE ARE MORE THAN 190 OF
THEM. IN THE NEXT THREE DECADES THE WORLD POPULATION WILL
DOUBLE -- ADDING 3.5 BILLION PEOPLE, OR THE EQUIVALENT
OF 3,500 CITIES OF A MILLION PERSONS,
-10-
BUT, OF COURSE, THAT'S A FIGURE OF SPEECH. BECAUSE,
THOSE ADDITIONAL 3.5 BILLION PEOPLE WILL NOT MAKE ALL
THOSE NEW CITIES. THEY WILL BE CROWDED INTO THE AREAS OF
HUMAN SETTLEMENT WHICH, FOR THE MOST PART, ALREADY EXIST.
ACCORDING TO "THE HOME OF MAN" -- A STUDY COMPILED
FOR HABITAT BY BARBARA WARD, URBAN SETTLEMENTS ARE GROWING
TWICE AS FAST AS POPULATION. THE BIG CITIES OF 500,000
AND MORE ARE GROWING TWICE AS FAST AS SETTLEMENTS AS A
WHOLE. AND THE MEGALOPOLES OF OVER TWO MILLION CAN GROW
TWICE AS FAST AGAIN.
IT IS ESTIMATED THAT MORE BUILDINGS WILL BE REQUIRED
OVER THE NEXT THIRTY YEARS THAN WERE PUT UP IN THE WHOLE
OF HUMAN EXISTENCE TO THE PRESENT TIME.
THE PHENOMENON CANNOT HELP BUT CHANGE THE REALTOR'S
WHOLE ECONOMIC PICTURE, INCREASINGLY, AS THE OUTER LIMITS
OF DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY ARE EXHAUSTED, THE REALTOR WILL
FIND HIS CHOICEST PARCELS OF LAND AND HOUSING SALES
OPPORTUNITIES IN URBAN NEIGHBORHOODS WHICH, EVEN NOW, ARE
IN SERIOUS DECLINE,
-11-
IF FOR NO HIGHER MOTIVE THAN SELF-PRESERVATION, THE
REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY MUST TAKE VIGOROUS LEADERSHIP IN
FINDING SOLUTIONS TO THE GRAVE AND EVIDENT PROBLEMS OF
OUR CITIES RIGHT NOW, FOR THE STEADY DECLINE OF OUR URBAN
CENTERS IN THESE EARLY YEARS OF WHAT BARBARA WARD CALLS
THE "20TH CENTURY'S GREAT URBAN DELUGE", LEAVES LITTLE
DOUBT THAT WE HAVE NOT BEGUN TO MASTER THE TECHNIQUES,
THE PLANNING, AND THE KIND OF THINKING IT WILL TAKE TO SEE
THE WORLD THROUGH THE FLOOD TIDE OF POPULATION AND URBANIZATION
IN THE NEXT DECADE ALONE -- A PERIOD IN WHICH AN ESTIMATED
85 ADDITIONAL CITIES WILL JOIN THE MILLION POPULATION CLASS,
OBVIOUSLY, THERE IS OPPORTUNITY, AS WELL AS PROBLEM,
IN THE IMMEDIATE AFTERMATH OF SUCH UNPRECEDENTED GROWTH --
BUT OPPORTUNITY THAT WILL TURN TO ASHES UNLESS GOVERNMENT
AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR SHARE THE OBLIGATIONS OF THAT OPPORTUNITY.
THE INESCAPABLE BURDEN OF THE REALTOR IN THE ACCELERATING
URBANIZATION OF THE YEARS AHEAD IS THE PRESERVATION OF ALL
THE LIFE FORCES AND ELEMENTS THAT SUPPORT THE REALTORS' OWN
COMMERCE.
-12-
ONE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE CURRENT DRAFT READS THAT:
"PLANNING AT ALL SCALES MUST BE A CONTINUOUS PROCESS REQUIRING
MONITORING, EVALUATION AND REVIEW AS WELL AS FEEDBACK FROM
THE PEOPLE AFFECTED.
THE STATEMENT OF THIS ORGANIZATION TO THE UNITED NATIONS
CONFERENCE THAT GOVERNMENTS SHOULD USE THE EXPERTISE OF REAL
ESTATE PROFESSIONALS CONFIRMS THE VALIDITY OF THAT POSITION,
INDEED, GOVERNMENTS MUST HAVE ACCESS TO THE COUNSEL OF
PROFESSIONALS IN EVERY FIELD OF HUMAN ENDEAVOR. AND THE
UNITED STATES WILL EMPHASIZE, AT VANCOUVER, THE NEED FOR
GOVERNMENTS TO RECOGNIZE AND UTILIZE THE VAST RESERVOIR OF
TALENT IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
WHERE, BETTER, COULD GOVERNMENT TURN THAN TO REALTORS
FOR VITAL "EARLY WARNING" TO RAPIDLY CHANGING CHALLENGES,
TRENDS AND OPPORTUNITIES?
CERTAINLY, I CAN TESTIFY, FROM MY OWN EXPERIENCE THAT
A QUALIFIED SOURCE OF RELIABLE INFORMATION ON THE HOUSING
SITUATION IN ANY NEIGHBORHOOD AT A GIVEN TIME IS THE REALTOR
WHO COVERS THE TERRITORY.
-13-
WE ARE PRAGMATIC ENOUGH -- AND NOT WITHOUT SOME SAD
EXPERIENCE -- TO KNOW THAT GOVERNMENT, ALONE, NO MATTER HOW
WELL-INTENTIONED, CANNOT RESOLVE ALL THE PROBLEMS OF ALL THE
PEOPLE. WE HAVE A HEALTHY REGARD FOR THE DISTINCT POSSIBILITY
THAT GOVERNMENT, PER SE, IS NOT NECESSARILY INFALLIBLE.
THUS, THE UNITED STATES WILL URGE MODIFICATION OF THE
PROPOSAL THAT: "CHANGE IN THE USE OF LAND FROM AGRICULTURE
TO URBAN, SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO PUBLIC CONTROL AND REGULATION.
SUCH CONTROL MAY BE EXERCISED THROUGH
(AMONG OTHER
THINGS) EXPROPRIATION AND PRE-EMPTION."
THE CURRENT DRAFT OF THE CONFERENCE RECOMMENDATION DOES
NOT SAY ANYTHING ABOUT COMPENSATION WHEN LAND IS EXPROPRIATED.
WE WILL SUGGEST THIS BE CHANGED. WE BELIEVE THAT THE DEGREE
OF GOVERNMENTAL INTERVENTION IN ANY GIVEN COUNTRY MUST BE IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THAT COUNTRY'S CONSTITUTIONAL AND SOCIAL
PRACTICES,
WE WANT TO CHANGE THE WORDS "EXPROPRIATION AND PRE-
EMPTION" TO ACQUISITION OF TITLE BY GOVERNMENT WITH APPROPRIATE
COMPENSATION." WE ARE MINDFUL OF THE COMMAND IN OUR CONSTITUTION
THAT THERE SHALL BE NO TAKING OF PRIVATE PROPERTY FOR PUBLIC
USE WITHOUT JUST COMPENSATION.
-15-
WHAT WE HAVE BEEN ADDRESSING ARE ONLY THE DRAFT
RECOMMENDATIONS. THERE WILL BE CHANGES IN VANCOUVER. EVEN
AFTER FINAL APPROVAL AT HABITAT, THESE RECOMMENDATIONS WILL
NOT BE BINDING ON ANY NATION. WE ARE TRYING TO WRITE THESE
RECOMMENDATIONS IN SUCH A WAY THAT THEY WILL BE USEFUL TO
ALL THE WORLD'S NATIONS. WE MUST ALSO RESPECT VERY DIFFERENT
NATIONAL CONDITIONS, CULTURES AND LAWS,
PUTTING ITEMS OF DEBATE ASIDE, ALL OF US IN THE PUBLIC
SECTOR AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR CAN AGREE WITH THE DRAFT
CONFERENCE RECOMMENDATION THAT: "Comprehensive INFORMATION
ON LAND CHARACTERISTICS, TENURE, USE AND LEGISLATION SHOULD
BE COLLECTED AND CONSTANTLY UPDATED."
SUCH A POSITION PRESUMES A WORLDWIDE, WORKING PARTNERSHIP
IN VITAL COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN, AND AMONG, ALL PEOPLES,
OUR MEETING HERE, THIS MORNING, IS AN EXPRESSION OF
OUR MUTUAL REGARD FOR THAT PARTNERSHIP -- OUR DESIRE TO BE
MUTUALLY INVOLVED, MUTUALLY SUPPORTIVE, AND OPEN TO EACH
OTHER'S COUNSEL,
I AM IMPRESSED BY YOUR OWN VIEW OF YOUR ROLE IN THE
SOLUTION OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS PROBLEMS WHICH THIS CONGRESS
WILL PRESENT TO THE HABITAT CONFERENCE NEXT WEEK,
-16-
FOR, AS I READ IT -- PREAMBLE TO PLEDGE -- I COULD ONLY
CONCUR WITH YOUR OWN POSITIVE OUTLOOK ON THE FUTURE -- PROBLEMS
NOTWITHSTANDING.
NOT ONLY DO YOU HAVE A FIRM GRASP AND DEEP UNDERSTANDING
OF THE COMPLEXITIES OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS IN THE FUTURE OF THE
HUMAN RACE, YOU HAVE THE COURAGE AND THE ENTHUSIASM TO TAKE
THEM ON -- AND WIN,
I WELCOME OUR FOREIGN VISITORS TO OUR COUNTRY, IT IS A
GREAT JOY TO KNOW YOU, I WISH ALL OF YOU WELL IN YOUR WEEK-
LONG CONFERENCE.
THANK YOU.