Mcgovern Urges U.S. Reject European Efforts to Bring PLO into Mideast Peace Process

Sen. George McGovern (D.SD), called on the Carter Administration yesterday to reject efforts to bring the Palestine Liberation Organization into the Middle East peace process.

In an apparent reference to reports that Western European nations at their Venice meeting, beginning today, will seek to include the PLO in future Arab-Israel negotiations, McGovern told the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations: “American policy should clearly stand for the principle that no negotiating role for the PLO should ever be considered unless and until it drops its murderous covenant and accepts Israel’s right to exist.

“If our European allies seek an independent role, let them use their influence to bring Jordan and Syria into the Camp David talks to help achieve the comprehensive peace they claim to seek,” he said.

CRITICAL OF WHITE HOUSE

McGovern a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said he supported President Carter’s “threat to veto a European-inspired Palestinian resolution at the UN. “He called the President’s statement “an example of the strong and vigorous leadership Camp David requires and which only the United States can provide. ” At the same time, however, he criticized the White House for “lack of clarity” in its attitude toward the PLO, asserting: “The Administration condemns the PLO one week, then greets it at embassy cocktail parties the next.” He added, “If doubts were to arise in the future about Israel’s security — if Arab leaders believed they could barter barrels of oil for a PLO state of if terrorists conclude that Americans cared more for a balanced budget than for aid to Israel, then the whole Camp David framework could become unstuck.”