Office of the Historian

458. Telegram From the Embassy in France to the Department of State1

Paris, July 14, 1957—9 p.m.

268. 1. We had conversation with Foreign Office (Lebel) evening July 12 concerning current government crisis Laos, speaking along lines indicated Embtel 243 to Department.2 We pointed out: (a) Phoui or Katay seemed to us best candidates at present; (b) Phoui had twice declined attempt form government; (c) we would not wish for Souvanna form government at this time since his personal prestige so closely linked to dangerous coalition plan (Lebel seemed to wince at this); (d) Petsarath, as we all had agreed, would be danger because of his soft attitude toward Pathet Lao; (e) we therefore hoped Katay would be able form government and obtain investiture quickly since it was to interest all of us government crisis not continue.

2. We added as our own personal view critical state King’s health3 made it especially important firm government be formed soonest since it would be most serious to have possible crisis of succession while government crisis unresolved. In this connection, we said we believed it would be unfortunate if Souvanna were Prime Minister should King die in light bad relations between Crown Prince and Souvanna and Souvanna’s family ties with Petsarath and Souphanouvong should Petsarath choose that moment challenge Crown Prince for throne. Katay, on other hand, could be expected support regular succession Crown Prince. We said we thus frankly presenting our views to Lebel since we in accord his earlier plea for candor and cooperation.

3. Lebel agreed King’s health added urgency to need for early formation Lao Government, but said he did not believe Souvanna would oppose Crown Prince. Lebel then dwelt at some length on theme both Phoui and Katay regarded in Lao public eye as corrupt and reaping personal profit from United States aid program. We did not point out Souvanna generally believed in Laos to be connected with opium traffic, contenting ourselves with rejoining there were few Lao public figures about whom similar charges could not be produced. Important point was that Katay, whatever his faults, appeared to us to be best available candidate at present and we hoped for his [Page 951] early success in obtaining investiture. Lebel made no commitment other than to agree government should be formed quickly.

4. Comment: It was clear, of course, by implication that French prefer Souvanna, which was no surprise. Foreign Office has now been put on notice, however, as to our views. Burden is now on French to live up to their own plea for candor and frankness.4

Houghton
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751J.00/7–1457. Secret; Limit Distribution. Repeated to Vientiane and London.↩
  2. Document 456.↩
  3. King Sisavang Vong, according to French sources, was critically ill with extreme anemia complicated by diabetes and other conditions preventing transfusions. (Telegram 53 from Vientiane, July 9; Department of State, Central Files, 751J.11/7–957)↩
  4. The Department agreed in telegram 59 to Vientiane sent also to Paris as 236, July 16. (Ibid., 751J.00/7–1357)↩