P.L.O. as observer

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33869, 14 June 1975, Page 15

P.L.O. as observer

(N.Z.P.A.Reute r—Copyright) GENEVA, -June 13. The International Labour Organisation (LL.O.) yesterday opened its doors to the Palestine Liberation Organisation (P.L.0.), overriding pleas by Western trade unionists that the commando body first renounce its aim of destroying Israel. Amid boos and applause, United States and Israeli delegates walked out of the 126-nation I.L.O’s annual conference in protest immediately after it voted to admit an eight-member P L.O. observer delegation. But representatives of governments. , employers and trade union organisations from Arab. African, Asian and Communist countries rose and applauded for several minutes as the Palestinians walked down a central aisle, raising their hands in V for victory signs and waving. The conference acting on a request for observer status nade last year by the P.L.0., amended its standing orders to allow the Palestinians to oe invited to attend with the •ight to speak but not to vote. Mr Irving Brown of the American Federation of .about and Congress of

Industrial Organisations (A.F.L./C.1.0.) said: “We op pose the admission of libera tion movements which seel the destruction of anothei people or their state sovereignty as a pre. requisite to achieving theii goals.” He announced that the United States workers’ delegation was withdrawing front the three weeks conference which continues until June 25. The United States Government delegate, Edmond Persons,- described the decision to admit the P.L.O. as “illconsidered and tragic” and a betrayal of the first purposes of the 1.L.0. “Those who have insisted on raising here a political issue on which there are deeply felt differences between groups of workers as well as between governments have created a dangerous division amongst us,” he said. Mr Persons said that the United States Government delegation was leaving that meeting of the conference in solidarity with the American workers’ delegation, but it would return later when the gathering resumed its regular work so as to defend United States interests in the 1.L.0. Mr Gideon Ben-Israel, of the Israeli workers’ delegation, was also leaving the conference. But the Israeli Government delegation would remain, its leader. Mr A. Gurel, told reporters.

At the beginning of a sevenhour debate, the Australian trade union leader, Mr Bob Hawke, implored delegates To ’ vote for an amendment making it a condition that liberation movements invited to attend 1.L.0. meetings must recognise the rights of all member States to continue in existence. Mr Hawke warned delegates that if they allowed the P.L.O. to attend without renouncing its aim of destroying Israel they would take “the first step down the road to the destruction of the 1.L.0.” The Moroccan Labour Minister (Mr Mohamed alArbi Khattabi), speaking on behalf of all Arab Government delegates, said that the i P.L.O. respected the priniciples and objectives of the (United Nations and its admission as an observer could not Ipossibly be prejudicial to the '1.L.0. or any of its member ; States. i The Soviet Government ■delegate, Mr Vladimir ITcherednik, said that the lissue of participation of liberation movements, including the P.L.O. in international i organisations in fact had 'already been settled. It would hardly be realistic to expect that the 1.L.0. should be the only organisa--kion in the United Nations' system to shut its doors, he added.