372. Memorandum of Discussion at the 292d Meeting of the National Security Council, Washington, August 9, 19561
[Here follow a paragraph listing the participants at the meeting and agenda items 1–3.]
4. Significant World Developments Affecting U.S. Security
The Director of Central Intelligence said that negotiations between the Royal Government of Laos and the Pathet Lao—the latter are sponsored by North Vietnam and control two northern provinces in Laos—have been under way, and an agreement in principle is about to be reached. This agreement, if concluded, will result in substantial gains for the Communists; that is, in gains which must be considered substantial in view of the exposed position of the area. Under this agreement the Government of Laos would adopt a policy of neutralism, establish friendly relations with neighboring countries, refrain from ties with other countries, and permit 1000 men from the Pathet Lao provinces to enter the Army of Laos. The Pathet Lao, for its part, would recognize that the authority of the Royal Government of Laos extends throughout Laos. Mr. Dulles said that in this situation a great deal depends on Free World and North Vietnamese [Page 791] action. The agreement between the Government of Laos and the Pathet Lao may be the first step in Communist penetration of the Laotian Government; on the other hand, if the Laotian Government is effective in building up its security forces, the situation may not be lost. Mr. Dulles thought, however, that the situation in Laos warranted close study, especially study of the possibility that the Communists now had an opening wedge, preliminary to taking over.
Admiral Radford said he had been in the area just last week, and that the negotiations referred to by Mr. Dulles were scheduled to start the day after his departure. While there, he learned that President Diem was more worried about Laos than about Cambodia, because the Laotians were felt to be capricious. It looked as if the Laotians were about to give in and let the Communists enter the government. Diem, he added, was about to exchange diplomatic representatives with Laos. Admiral Radford then expressed some reservations concerning the efficiency of the armed forces of Laos. Mr. Dulles said that a great deal of effort had been devoted to training security forces in Laos. Admiral Radford asked whether Mr. Dulles was referring to training under the French. Mr. Dulles said he referred to training under the United States. The Secretary of State said that the training had been in Thailand. Mr. Allen Dulles said the security problem was complicated by the long frontier of Laos.
[Here follow discussion of the Burmese-Chinese border situation and agenda item 5, “The Suez Canal Situation” (for text, see volume XVI, page 165.]
- Source: Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, NSC Records. Top Secret; Eyes Only. Drafted by Marion W. Boggs on August 10.↩