Conference files, lot 60 D 627, CF 311
Memorandum by Richard V. Hennes to the Head of the
United States Delegation (Smith)
Attached is a statement prepared by Ambassador Heath for your use in the event the
Communists raise the question of the presence at the Conference of
the “ghost regimes” in Cambodia and Laos. Ambassador Heath has the original, which he
will bring to the session.
[Attachment]
At Berlin we agreed that “the problem of restoring peace in
Indochina” would be discussed at this conference “to which
representatives of the United States, France, the United
Kingdom, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the Chinese
People’s Republic, and other interested states will be
invited.”
At Geneva the four inviting powers have agreed that in addition
to the participation specified at Berlin there should be
representatives at this conference of the Governments of Laos,
Cambodia, and Viet Nam, and of the Vietminh.
The United States cannot agree that non-existent so-called
governments or states, such as the so-called Pathet Lao or Free
Cambodians can in any way be considered as qualifying for
invitations to this conference under the Berlin Agreement.
The United States proposes that any idea of inviting these
nonexistent so-called governments be rejected. If there is
opposition to this United States proposal, the United States
suggests this meeting be adjourned to allow for further
discussions on this point between the four inviting powers.
