409. Telegram From the Embassy in Laos to the Department of State1
1014. Department pass USUN/NY for Kenneth Young. Following detailed summary of unofficial French translation RLG–PL declaration signed late December 28, expected be published December 29 or 30.
Since November 7 Prince Souvanna Phouma and Prince Souphanouvong have been exchanging views on application of joint declarations of August 5 and 10, 1956,2 which defined broad principles re final settlement Lao problem in conformity Geneva agreement.
Two Princes note with satisfaction atmosphere of cordiality and mutual understanding increased between two parties, and that work of two mixed commissions established September 9, 1956, to find measures of implementing two joint declarations mentioned above have had initial success, namely, by signature of (1) agreement on means of implementing cease-fire, dated October 31; (2) agreement on means of implementing policy of peace and neutrality, dated November 2; (3) agreement on guarantee of civic rights of members and partisans of Pathet, dated December 24.
[Page 869]Two Princes agree on necessity give wide publicity and sincere application to signed agreements on details in order satisfy expectations of entire people.
Two Princes agree to declare that insofar as pending questions are concerned, notably (1) guarantee of democratic freedoms of the people; (2) general complementary elections; (3) settlement of question of administration in two provinces; (4) settlement of military question; the two delegations at mixed political and military commissions have discussed these in detail, and views of two parties are very nearly in harmony. Also, two Princes agree on necessity for two delegations to increase their efforts to arrive at conclusion in shortest possible time.
Re question of general complementary elections, two Princes agree that electoral law, which will soon be elaborated by National Assembly, will guarantee to all citizens of both sexes right to elect and to stand for election according to principle of equal direct free and secret suffrage, and that law will include guarantees that elections are just and fraud impossible, in conformity with very spirit of constitution of kingdom.
In order to elicit cooperation between two parties, to realize national unity, and to facilitate settlement of pending questions, two Princes agree to proceed to broadening present Royal Government and transforming it into government of national union before holding of general complementary elections. Government of national union, in which representatives of PL will participate honorably, will thus constitute symbol of national reconciliation as base for political program suitable to objective of building peaceful, democratic, united, independent and prosperous Laos. Government national union must receive confidence of National Assembly in constitutional manner.
After formation government national union forces of PL will function as political organization called “Neo Lao Haksat” which will carry out its activities within legal framework as do other political parties.
Re question two provinces, two Princes agree that immediately after formation government national union, administration as well as fighting units in two provinces of Phongsaly and Sam Neua will be placed under administration of said government and reorganized according to Royal Government standards.
As to means of concrete execution, they will be entrusted by government of national union to political and military mixed commissions, which will come to agreement according to spirit of declarations of August 5 and 10 to accelerate settlement in manner reasonable and satisfactory to both parties, and in conformity with aspirations entire Lao people.
Finally, two Princes agree to meet again as soon as may be necessary. Done at Vientiane December 28, 1956.
Signed Prince Souvanna Phouma, signed Prince Souphanouvong.
End text.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751J.00/12–2956. Confidential; Priority. Repeated to Paris, London, Bangkok, Ottawa, Saigon, New Delhi, and Phnom Penh.↩
- See footnote 3, Document 368, and footnote 2, Document 374 respectively.↩