Office of the Historian

303. Memorandum of a Telephone Conversation Between the Secretary of State and the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Robertson), Washington, July 12, 1955, 6:36 p.m.1

Washington, July 12, 1955, 6:36 p.m.

TELEPHONE CALL FROM MR. ROBERTSON.

R. said he spoke to Radford re the cable from Vientiane.2 R. said they have both planes and Marines and can give you any support you want. He (Radford) thinks this is a situation we ought not let go by in silence—the world should know this situation exists. The Sec. asked if we have any carriers around there, and R. said we give them to the French to have them in those waters for security and they won’t use them. The Sec. said why don’t we take them back, and R. said he thinks we should—they are neutralists. The Sec. said wonderful—re the Radford response and said now it is a political decision. R. agreed. The Sec. said why don’t we tell our fellow at Bangkok (not Vientiane) if we have ascertained that we can make a military force available and it is a matter for political decision in the light of developments and then it will leak out. Vientiane will learn it all right.

  1. Source: Eisenhower Library, Dulles Papers, General Telephone Conversations. Transcribed by Phyllis D. Bernau.↩
  2. Apparent reference to telegram 41 from Vientiane, July 13. In this communication the Legation provided a summary prepared by the military attaché on recent fighting between the Pathet Lao and the Lao Government as follows: on July 3, the Pathet Lao launched a general attack (3 battalions of approximately 1,800 men and mortar support) on the heights surrounding the government-held town of Muong Peun in Sam Neua province. The Pathet Lao gained control of a northern semicircle of high ground around the town by driving back Royal Lao Army outposts. On July 7 the Royal Army commander at Muong Peun reported that his post was under attack and requested reinforcements, which were airdropped on July 8 and 9. After July 8, however, the fighting subsided with the exception of minor patrol clashes on July 10. The attaché at Vientiane believed that as of July 12 the Pathet Lao were awaiting re-supply. The attaché also observed that the Pathet Lao, who were supported by Viet Minh cadres, could have destroyed the Royal Army at Muong Peun, but they failed to press the attack. (Department of State, Central Files, 751J.00/7–1355)↩