Foreign Relations of the United States, 1961–1963, Volume XXIII, Southeast Asia

402. Memorandum From Secretary of State Rusk to President Kennedy⁰

Washington, April 17, 1961.

SUBJECT

• Message on Laos from the Prime Minister of Thailand

A message addressed to you by Thai Prime Minister Sarit was delivered at the Department on April 11 by Ambassador Visutr of Thailand and was forwarded the same day to the White House.¹ Although the Ambassador described the message as urgent and serious, he did not wish to trouble you personally so soon after having called on you April 6.²

Marshal Sarit’s message concerns Laos and the dangers we may face at the conference table as well as in any moves to create a more representative government in Vientiane. I believe the Prime Minister’s remarks reflect a genuine and deep concern over the effect of U.S. decisions and actions on the security of Thailand. At the same time, Marshal Sarit firmly pledges Thailand’s cooperation with the United States in determining and taking actions in the event a peaceful resolution of the Lao crisis is not possible.

In view of the Prime Minister’s justifiable concern over the crisis in neighboring Laos and of Thailand’s key importance in our efforts to stem the Communist advance in Southeast Asia, I believe Marshal Sarit’s message merits a personal response from you. Accordingly, a proposed reply is enclosed for your approval. Since Marshal Sarit sent me a virtually identical message, I propose to reply in general terms, emphasizing our intention to consult the Royal Thai Government closely on actions to be taken in the Lao crisis. A copy of my proposed reply also is enclosed.³

If you approve, the replies would be transmitted simultaneously to our Embassy at Bangkok for delivery to the Prime Minister. I recommend that these replies not be released for publication.

Dean Rusk

0. Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, Thailand, Vol. I, 1/61–5/61. Secret. The Department of State copy indicates that Askew drafted the memorandum and the enclosed letters. (Department of State, Central Files, 751J.00/4–1761)
1. In his letter, Sarit stated that any solution for Laos should not result in its partitioning or dismemberment, nor would Thailand be able “to support a solution that will permit, in the near or distant future, the destructive Communist elements to assume a de facto or de jure control over Laos,” The optimum solution, Sarit continued, would be “a regime of genuine and unbiased neutrality in which a wider representation of national elements is assured with the exclusion of disruptive Communist factions which are subservient to outside control.” Thailand was prepared to cooperate closely with the United States in implementing appropriate action. (Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, Thailand, Vol. I, 1/61–5/61)
2. See Document 400.
3. The attached proposed replies by the President and the Secretary were sent unchanged to Bangkok in telegrams 1615 and 1614, respectively, both April 18. According to telegram 1888 from Bangkok, April 20, both letters were delivered. (Department of State, Central Files, 751J.00/4–1861 and 751J.00/4–2061)