The State Department made it known here that while the United States wants to have Palestine Liberation Army members removed from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency ration rolls, their identification is “virtually impossible” without cooperation of Arab host governments which is now being sought.
This was disclosed by Assistant Secretary of State Douglas MacArthur, 2nd, in a letter to Rep. William F. Ryan, New York Democrat. Mr. MacArthur told the Congressman that Secretary of State Dean Rusk asked him to clarify the current situation involving the distribution of UNRWA food and supplies to members of the PLA.
He said that the U.S. Government first raised the subject of removal of PLA adherents from UNRWA rolls more than a year ago and “since then, we have registered our concern with UNRWA on a number of occasions at the lack of progress on this matter.”
The official reported that “UNRWA assures us that it is well aware of the problem and that it is attempting to work out arrangements with the Arab host governments whereby PLA recruits can be identified and removed from the ration rolls. Without cooperation from the host governments, however, it would be virtually impossible for UNRWA to identify PLA members.”
Mr. MacArthur emphasized that “in the meantime, it is our intention to do all possible to urge UNRWA to continue its efforts to correct this abuse.”
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