Office of the Historian

249. Telegram From the Embassy in Laos to the Department of State1

Vientiane, January 23, 1957—5 p.m.

1187. Department pass USUN /NY niact. Reference: Usun 4 repeated information Department Delga 561. We called on Secretary State Foreign Affairs afternoon 23rd soonest after receipt reference telegram but he had already referred matter to Prime Minister (titular Foreign Minister). This at best makes success doubtful; if Secretary State considered question too hot for him to handle in [Page 493] view Laos present ticklish position vis-à-vis neighbors, Prime Minister may be expected be even more chary of affronting Viet Minh Government. Without wishing shown overanxiety re issue, we nevertheless primed Secretary State re embarrassment to Laos of backing out after co-sponsorship inscribed, as well as effect on relations South Vietnam. Secretary State agreed, particularly with latter in view anomaly wherein Saigon Government has mission accepted and installed here. Again not wishing appear over anxious, we pointed to time factor. Secretary State promised see Prime Minister on matter tonight 23rd if able, if not morning 24th that latest, and get reply off soonest.

While we not sanguine re affirmative reaction, USDel may wish try stall till morning 24th. Message leaving here afternoon 24th reaches New York morning 24th with international time difference.2

Parsons
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 310.2/1–2357. Official Use Only; Niact.↩
  2. On January 23, Nguyen Qui Anh, First Secretary of the Vietnamese Embassy, telephoned Thomas J. Corcoran of the Office of Southeast Asian Affairs from New York to report that the United States, Japan, Cuba, Italy, the Philippines, and Thailand had all spoken in favor of the Vietnamese membership resolution and to record his “great surprise at the Lao decision to withdraw cosponsorship after the Lao Ambassador had promised the Vietnamese Ambassador that Laos would be a cosponsor.” What had made “matters worse,” Anh continued “was the fact that the senior Lao delegate, Khampan Panya, insisted on raising a point of order and formally withdrawing Lao cosponsorship.” (Memorandum of a telephone conversation; ibid.)↩