751J.00/9–1151: Telegram
The Chargé at Saigon (Gullion) to the Secretary of State
611. Re Vientiane despatch number 4 July 7.1 During Legation and STEM reps presence Vientiane for signing ECA bilateral, fol info Aug 26 Laotian elections to National Assembly obtained from varied sources. Elections generally orderly. Only in few relatively remote centers did few VM elements attempt scare electorate away by threats violence. Results from about ⅓rd constituencies still not known, but all members Cabinet who ran for office re-elected except for one who failed “because he was working at his job so hard, he had no time to campaign”. Acting Commissioner of Republic estimated that 30 percent potential voting population unable participate because of state insecurity in certain areas and that additional 10 percent did not vote because of deliberate abstention due VM inspired fear or for other reasons.
Relatively new progressive party made heavy gains, capturing over ⅓rd seats. According Vietnam press Sept 8 out of 37 seats, 23 definite, 2 almost certain, but due rainy season indefinite or no results yet recd from northern provinces of Samneua, Luang Prabang, Houei Sa, and Phong Saly. Press agency forecast eventual results as 14 Progressives, 3 Democrats, 3 Union Nationals and 17 Independents.
New govt to be inaugurated end Oct or first Nov will probably be, as at present, coalition Union National, Democratic and Progressive parties with so-called “Independents”. Le Ky Huong, Fr civil servant and counselor to Laotian Govt indicated Progressives leadership based on Laotian refugees returning from Thailand and admitted they represented potential pressure associate Laos more closely with Thailand than in past. Apparently as Party Progressives issued no clearcut national program. Based their campaign on appeals know needs each locality in which they campaigned.
Voting booths contain photos each candidate registered in respective constituencies with number adjacent to it and pile similarly numbered ballots under each photo. Voter selects numbered ballot corresponding his candidates numbered photo and deposits ballot in urn.
Sent Dept 611, rptd info Paris 256, Hanoi unnumbered.
- Not printed.↩