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                                                                    EXHIBIT 16.1


                              ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP


February 26, 1997

Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20549


Gentlemen:

We have read Item 4 included in the attached Form 8-K dated February 26, 1997
of International Alliance Services, Inc. to be filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission and are in agreement with the statements contained in the
first and third paragraphs and the statement in the middle sentence of the
second paragraph indicating we were dismissed as independent auditors on
February 19, 1997. We have no basis to agree or disagree with the other
statements of the registrant contained in Item 4.

Very truly yours,


/s/ Arthur Andersen LLP
Arthur Andersen LLP