Undersecretary of State Joseph J. Sisco told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency today that he “categorically denies there is any change in U.S. policy toward the Palestine Liberation Organization.” Sisco’s remark, in a telephone call to the JTA here, arose as a result of two interviews by the Undersecretary, one taped last Monday for overseas broadcast by the U.S. Information Agency and the other, this morning on the NBC-TV “Today” show.
Sisco said on the USIA Interview. “We regard the PLO as the overall umbrella organization of the Palestinians.” When questioned on that statement by NBC reporter Richard Valeriani this morning, the Undersecretary replied, “I think that was an unfortunate way to put it. Actually, what I was trying to reflect was that the Arabs consider the PLO as the umbrella organization. Now, let me make very clear that our policy is as stated by the President and Secretary of State. We’ve accorded no recognition of any kind. Our position remains unchanged.”
Sisco told the JTA Washington Bureau this afternoon: “I’m going to be damn sure that the USIA uses what I said on the ‘Today’ show.” He made that assertion several hours after State Department officials, asked by newsmen whether the USIA interview would be amended or corrected in light of Sisco’s NBC interview, replied that they did not believe that would happen.
Sisco’s reference to the PLO as an “umbrella” organization of the Palestinians, contained in the USIA interview which has not yet been distributed overseas, was made in the context of a further remark by the Undersecretary that “we also believe that in order to achieve any kind of durable peace the legitimate interests of the Palestinians have to be taken into account.”
TRIED TO SHOW HOW ARABS VIEW SITUATION
When Valeriani suggested on the “Today” show that the Undersecretary’s USIA remarks “seem to go further than you’ve ever gone before” toward recognition of the PLO, and that he seemed “to be preparing the groundwork for bringing the PLO into the negotiations.” Sisco replied. “No. I don’t think that’s the case. Again, I’ve got to underscore that our position remains unchanged.” He said that he was “really trying to state a fact as conceived by the Arabs, that the Arabs do conceive of the PLO as the umbrella organization.”
A high level State Department source told newsmen privately today that “the whole thrust of the interview with the USIA was not in that direction,” meaning recognition of the PLO. He stressed that the interview “does not change American policy.”
The JTA learned that the Sisco interview for overseas distribution was made at the request of the State Department to the USIA. According to law, the State Department provides guidance to the information agency. Normally, such USIA material is subjected to formal review before it is sent overseas. It has not been determined whether the Sisco interview will be provided with an Arabic soundtrack. According to one source, it will not be shown in Israel. Distribution depends on requests from the USIA missions in each country. There was no indication today whether the USIA office in Tel Aviv has been informed of the Interview.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
