298. Memorandum From the Secretary of State to the President1
SUBJECT
- Elevation of the United States Legation at Vientiane, Laos to Embassy
I have been informed by the Laotian Government2 that it proposes to raise its diplomatic representation in the United States to rank of embassy. The Department has learned that similar proposals have been made to the British and Thai Governments.
Our interests in Laos have increased appreciably in the past year. We are actively engaged in supporting the present government through economic and military means, and it seems safe to say that these programs will assume greater importance in the immediate period ahead. Under these conditions I believe the strengthening of diplomatic relations between the two countries is highly desirable.
Accordingly, I recommend that you accept the Laotian Government’s proposal and at the same time approve the elevations of our Legation at Vientiane to the rank of embassy. I might add that our missions to the other countries of the former Associated States of Indo-China, Viet-Nam and Cambodia, have the rank of embassies.
If you approve, the Department will proceed with the necessary arrangements. In this connection I plan to recommend that Charles W. Yost, [Page 658] our present Minister to Laos, be nominated as our first Ambassador to that country.3
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 601.51J11/6–455. Confidential.↩
- A translation of the Lao note, April 21, is attached to another copy of this memorandum for the President, not printed. (Ibid., 601.51J11/4–2355)↩
- A marginal note by Eisenhower on the source text reads: “OK, DE”. The Legation was raised to Embassy status on August 10.↩