Office of the Historian

408. Memorandum From the Acting Director of the Office of Southeast Asian Affairs (Kocher) to the Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs (Robertson1

Washington, December 29, 1956.

SUBJECT

  • Proposed Recall for Consultation of Ambassador Parsons

It seems probable that within the next few days some form of coalition government including the Pathet Lao will be formed in Laos. Prime Minister Souvanna Phouma has presented to the Cabinet his proposal to bring two Pathet Lao into the Government in return for Pathet Lao agreement to dissolve the movement and permit restoration of the Royal Government’s authority in the two provinces. Both the Cabinet and, we believe, the Pathet Lao have accepted the proposal, and it will soon be presented to the National Assembly.

While there is some fear among Lao leaders that this move may lead to withdrawal of American aid, the trend in the National Assembly is toward acceptance of Souvanna’s plan.

You will recall that our letter of November 13 to Prime Minister Souvanna Phouma stated that we might be obliged to reappraise our political and economic policy toward Laos if developments occurred which in our view might jeopardize Lao’s prospects for maintaining itself as an independent and sovereign state. One of the cited examples was Pathet Lao participation in a coalition government. The language of this warning was deliberately vague and flexible. In the present case, we do not need to take decisions on our aid policy before the fact, and even after the fact we would wish to do nothing precipitate: Withdrawal or reduction of American aid might mean the absorption of Laos by the Communists.

At the same time, we should be ready, if coalition materializes, to make some move which would make very clear to the Lao that we were indeed reappraising our policy with respect to their country. To do nothing would make our warnings meaningless and lead the Lao to believe that anything is permissible so far as we are concerned.

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I should like therefore to suggest the recall for consultation of Ambassador J. Graham Parsons immediately after any Lao decision on coalition with the Pathet Lao. Upon receipt of orders, the Ambassador could inform the Lao Government of the reason for his departure from Vientiane.

Such a move would serve the twofold purpose of 1) showing the Lao we were serious about reappraising our policy and 2) affording the opportunity of detailed discussion of our aid policy with the Ambassador without prejudicing the outcome of those discussions.

Recommendation

That you recall Ambassador Parsons for consultation in Washington should the Lao National Assembly accept Pathet Lao entry into the Cabinet.2

  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751J.00/12–2956. Secret. Drafted by Byrne.↩
  2. Robertson initialed his approval on the source text.↩