751G.00/10–1354: Telegram
The Chargé in Laos (Rives) to the Department of State
[Received October 14—7:13 a.m.]
60. Repeated information Saigon 100, Paris 32, London, New Delhi unnumbered. From Yost. ReDeptel sent Vientiane 61, Paris 1316, New Delhi 432.1 Crown Prince sent British Minister and myself word that, as King due Laos October 24, he would prefer have us present our credentials to His Majesty in Luang Prabang. We therefore requested informal interview and were received separately yesterday morning.
After usual amenities Prince launched into bitter complaint at pressure exerted Laos at Geneva to sign unwelcome and dangerous agreement. He was equally critical his own government which he said yielded contrary his advice and has since lost two months by failure take decisive action. Change is therefore imperative and he hopes for “young team” which will cope vigorously with Communist danger. He expected negotiations might take two weeks after opening Assembly but would use threat of dissolution if necessary and is confident of success. He mentioned no names.
Prince was also critical International Commission for slowness getting teams into field. He said he had hand-picked governors for two northern provinces who are ready go in immediately International Commission does so, though he fears lives would be in danger if they went in first. He believes Viet Minh will withdraw more or less on schedule and chief danger arises from Pathet Lao. He is deeply concerned forced recruiting young Laos, pointing out some will be taken Peking and Moscow for indoctrination and will constitute threat for many years (I took occasion suggest he invite Nehru’s attention to these Communist violations truce agreement). Despite opportunity Pathet Lao had to dig in. Prince is hopeful they can be successfully combatted since they constitute small minority Lao people. He assured me Lao crown and government would resist Communist menace at whatever cost and whether or not they received support from other states.
I assured him of US desire aid Laos in this struggle in all practicable ways, mentioning continuance our aid program and fact that aid would be furnished directly his government. He urged economic aid [Page 2140] be directed primarily to peasants, constituting 95 percent population, in form of technical assistance, irrigation projects, roads and public health, rather than to city-dwellers, commerce and industry. He expressed awareness importance capable and honest Lao administrators in carrying out program.
As Department will observe, Prince himself fully alive to dangers described by Rives and I needed only emphasize we shared his apprehensions and his desire for prompt action. He was grateful our support and only in case Thai problem (reference previous Legation telegram) implied some doubt our intentions. Both British Minister and I much impressed by his grasp of situation, his resolution and decisiveness. Given effective support by western powers and Thais, there seems good prospect he should be able stabilize Laotian situation.
Since he still lacks coding facilities, Talbot requests American Embassy London repeat gist this interview to Foreign Office. His interview covered substantially same ground, minus discussion economic aid and plus heavy emphasis by Prince re Chinese inspiration and direction behind Viet Minh and Pathet Lao. Presumably he felt this emphasis unnecessary for Americans.
- In the reference telegram, dated Oct. 8, the Department of State informed the Legation that the British were concerned about the situation in Laos. It was recommended that Yost coordinate his efforts with the British Minister, Talbot, upon the arrival of the latter, in consulting the Crown Prince on measures to strengthen the Laotian Government and insure its control over all of its territory. (751G.00/10–854)↩