THIS STUDY ADVOCATES MORE CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT OF THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL POLICE ORGANIZATION (INTERPOL) IN THE U.S. THE CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY HEARINGS REVEAL INTERPOL'S POTENTIAL FOR ABUSE OF RIGHTS.
TO EXAMINE THE ACCOUNTABILITY OF SPECIALIZED INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS TO THEIR SPONSORING NATIONAL GOVERNMENTS, ATTENTION IS GIVEN TO THE CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT OF AMERICAN PARTICIPATION IN INTERPOL. ANALYSIS OF THE ISSUES RAISED IN THE CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS OF THE HOUSE JUDICIARY SUBCOMMITTEE FOR INTERNATIONAL LAW DURING 1977 CONCLUDES THAT THE NEED FOR OVERSIGHT IS SIGNIFICANT, BUT NUMEROUS BARRIERS IMPEDE ITS EXERCISE. THE LACK OF A LEGAL OR MORAL CONSENSUS ON WHAT CONSTITUTES INTERNATIONAL CRIME, AND ON WHAT CIVIL LIBERTIES MAY BE DIMINISHED IN THE STRUGGLE AGAINST CRIME, CONSTITUTE SOME OF THESE BARRIERS. LIKEWISE THE SECRETIVE NATURE OF INTERPOL AND THE DELICATE BALANCE OF WORLD DIPLOMACY DETERS EFFECTIVE CONGRESSIONAL INVESTIGATION. A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE SUGGESTS THAT 'OVERSIGHT' OF INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES REQUIRES MEANINGFUL RATHER THAN RUBBERSTAMP INQUIRY AND EVALUATION. THE RESOURCES AND LIMITATIONS OF CONGRESSIONAL ACTIVITY AS APPLIED TO INTERPOL ARE DISCUSSED IN THE CONTEXT OF THE POST-WATERGATE POLITICAL ERA. THE HISTORY OF CONGRESSIONAL AND FEDERAL INTEREST IN INTERPOL IS EXAMINED WITH EMPHASIS ON THE INTERPLAY OF GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, THE PRESS, AND PRIVATE GROUPS SUCH AS THE CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY. THE APPARENT INTERPOL HARASSMENT OF THE CHURCH WAS LARGELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONGRESSIONAL EXAMINATIONS OF INTERPOL ACTIVITIES WITH REGARD TO CIVIL LIBERTIES AND HUMAN RIGHTS. THE DEVELOPMENT OF INTERPOL INTO A WORLDWIDE AGENCY HAS NOT BEEN ACCOMPANIED BY A CONCURRENT EXPANSION OF INTERPOL'S ACCOUNTABILITY TO ITS SPONSORS. APPENDED MATERIALS INCLUDE A LEGISLATIVE HISTORY OF UNITED STATES FUNDING OF INTERPOL AND A SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY. (TWK)