121. Circular Telegram From the Department of State to Certain Diplomatic and Other Posts1
281. Following is summary (based on Soviet Embassy translation) of Khrushchev’s August 7 reply to President’s August 1 letter transmitted Deptel 316 to Moscow (also rptd other addressees):2
Khrushchev expresses appreciation for frankness President’s views and says he would also be frank. Situation in Laos cause for concern and for this reason Soviets proposed conference be held August. Khrushchev reaffirms Soviet support and observance agreement reached with President Kennedy at Vienna and Geneva Agreements which based on it.
In reply to idea Soviet Union should bear special responsibility Laos and to call not to withdraw from Co-Chairmanship, what more can be added to Soviet statement July 26? Efforts as Co-Chairman constantly blocked by actions of others in violation Agreements. Must admit efforts Co-Chairmen remain fruitless.
Recall that following Vientiane coup in April situation deteriorated further. Co-Chairmen made recommendations to restore situation, to renew cooperation three political forces. Nothing done to change situation. Hard to believe USG could not have exerted influence on Souvanna and Nosavan in order restore situation accordance Geneva Agreements. Increasingly obvious two not three political forces acting in Laos. “Souvanna Phouma has lost his identity, he has in fact ceased to be the representative of the neutralist forces.”
Although you wrote in principle you do not object to new Geneva Conference US puts forth preconditions for such a conference and UK and others follow suit. This approach unrealistic. If one side insists on preconditions other can do same. For example one might demand Nosavan pull back his troops to previous positions. Or that situation be restored to that existing before coup. Such a view not unfounded. Such approach would clearly make impossible convening conference. Who is to say whose troops occupied what and when? Impracticable to advance preconditions you recommend.
You write this is what Souvanna demands. Do not dispute but would say “from our standpoint such a demand merely confirms that [Page 253] Souvanna Phouma has recently drifted further away from the position of cooperation of the three political forces and has already ceased to express interests of the neutralist group which he represented earlier.”
You also express doubt Hanoi and Peking will agree participate in 14-nation conference. They have said ready attend and even insist conference be convened urgently. Hope US will drop any preconditions and remove obstacles to convening conference on Laos. Otherwise Soviet Union will have to consider question relinquishing Co-Chairman’s functions since they have become anachronism, turned into fiction.
Difficult view Lao question isolated from other regions of Southeast Asia. US measures escalating military operations in SVN as well as dangerous naval and air operations Gulf of Tonkin do not facilitate peaceful settlement Laos.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 LAOS. Confidential. Drafted by Barbis; cleared by Trueheart, Klein at the White House, and by Vladimir Toumanoff of EUR/SOV; and approved by Green. Sent to Moscow, London, Paris, Vientiane, Bangkok, Saigon, Phnom Penh, Rangoon, New Delhi, Ottawa, Warsaw, Hong Kong, USUN, and CINCPAC.↩
- Document 118.↩