Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, East Asian Security; Cambodia; Laos, Volume XXI

381. Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs (Robertson to the Acting Secretary of State¹

Washington, September 18, 1956.

SUBJECT

• Visit of Crown Prince of Laos to the United States.

We have just received word from our Embassy in Paris² that Crown Prince Savang of Laos, together with his daughter the Princess Savivan and Director of Protocol Chao Sopsaisana, will arrive in Washington on Thursday, September 20, for a private and unofficial visit. Though the visit has been talked about for nearly two months, it was never possible for Ambassador Parsons or the Embassy in Paris to get him to indicate a definite date. The Crown Prince and his party plan to leave the United States for France on September 25.

Despite his coming on extremely short notice during the Suez crisis, I believe we should give him the best treatment possible in view of the delicate and uncertain situation we face in Laos. As you know, the Crown Prince … holds a position of great influence, being in effect the King of Laos owing to his father’s long-failing health. Savang normally takes no direct hand in day-to-day government but is strategically placed to intervene when necessary to bring Lao affairs back to a stable course. Our reception of him here will, therefore, be most important in the effort to frustrate the current Communist attempt to “neutralize” Laos, as exemplified by the plush-red-carpet treatment, including offers of economic aid, accorded the Lao Prime Minister’s delegation in Peiping last month.

Consequently, I believe it would be highly desirable for the President to receive Crown Prince Savang on a 20- to 30-minute courtesy call. An informal check with the White House indicates that the President is tentatively scheduled to be in Washington on September 24.

I should also like to suggest that you receive Savang for a half-hour at the Department between September 21 and 24.³ The Secretary is giving a dinner for him on Monday, September 24, at the Anderson House, and I am giving a stag luncheon for him at the Blair House on Friday, September 21.

Recommendations⁴

1. That you sign the attached memorandum for the President.⁵

2. That you receive Savang at the Department.

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751J.11/9–1856. Confidential. Drafted by Byrne and Robertson and cleared by Young, Sebald, and MacArthur and by U/PR in substance.
2. In telegram 1292 from Paris, September 17, not printed. (Ibid., 751J.00/9–1756)
3. Savang met Acting Secretary Hoover on September 21. A memorandum of their conversation is ibid., 751J.11/9–2156.
4. Hoover initialed his approval of the recommendations on the source text.
5. Not attached. A copy is in Department of State, Central File, 033.51J11/9–1956. The memorandum to the President was similar to the memorandum to Hoover.