U.S. Acknowledges Dealing with PLO in Lebanon to Assure Safe Evacuation of Americans and Foreign Nat

President Ford skirted the delicate issue of official American relations with the Palestine Liberation Organization in expressing his thanks and congratulations to “all” who aided in the evacuation by sea of some 300 Americans and other foreign nationals from strife-torn Lebanon.

The State Department acknowledged yesterday that it has been “dealing” with the terrorist organization to obtain assurances that the evacuation would be conducted safely. It was the first time the United States has said it was in contact with the PLO. Declared U.S. policy has been that it would not deal with the Palestinians until they recognized Israel’s right to exist as an independent state. The Israeli position is against dealing with the PLO under any circumstances.

Presidential news secretary Ron Nessen said today that Ford had monitored the evacuation procedures in Lebanon on television for 80 minutes at the White House. Nessen noted that the evacuation was “completed successionally without incident and that the evacuees are aboard the USS Coronado enroute to Athens.

He added, that Ford congratulated Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, Undersecretary of State Philip Habib, the personnel of the Sixth Fleet and the American Embassy in Beirut for the “safe and orderly evacuation.” Nessen added: “The President also wants to express his gratitude and sincere thanks to all others who gave their cooperation to facilitate their departure.”

The State Department had said that the U.S. was in contact with “all parties” involved in the strife in Lebanon to arrange the evacuation which was carried out a week after it was scheduled. Originally it was to have been a movement overland to Damascus, like previous transfers. American officials were informed, however, that this time guarantees of safe conduct by land could not be given. The sources for the uncertainty of safety were not disclosed. Nessen, in response to a reporter’s question, said that “all parties” to which the State Department referred included the PLO.

ISRAEL SORRY ABOUT U.S.-PLO CONTACT

When the Department indicated that it was communicating directly with the PLO, Israeli Embassy press counsellor Avi Pazner said the Embassy had raised the question of U.S. contact with the PLO. He added: “We have expressed our sorrow that it was found necessary because of the situation for America to deal directly with the PLO. At the same time we have been assured that there is no change in U.S. policy toward the PLO.”

Meanwhile, speculation varied on the ultimate result of the U.S.-PLO communication. Some Israeli sources indicated they accept the U.S. contention that no change in American policy has taken place in view of the fact that the PLO is a shrinking force in the Arab world and it would be unwise for the U.S. to change its policy now towards the PLO. Others felt that the move represents a breakthrough to the great advantage of the PLO and that the way is now open for deepening the relationship. How deep, is the major question according to them.

This may not immediately be known. It was not ruled out, however, by some observers that a dramatic turnabout in the Israeli-Arab conflict may come in early autumn and that the U.S.-PLO contacts may be the forerunner of it. With Americans now talking to Palestinians as well as all other parties in the Middle East, the U.S. may move on two fronts simultaneously: to end the fighting in Lebanon by negotiating with the various elements and to move to end “the stalemate” in the Arab-Israeli conflict.