491. Telegram From the Embassy in Laos to the Department of State1
700. Pass CINCPAC for POLAD. At 9 a.m. first Phoui sent for me urgently and upon my arrival said that Souvanna had requested him to see me at once and to give me the following message from him. Souvanna desired also to have my reaction.
Last night accepted political and military accords and Communiqué also. (We hear RLG made further but unspecified concessions on military accord.) As enlarged government was to be presented for investiture before Assembly this morning Souvanna desired to take advantage of this opportunity to include two PL representatives forthwith. He had so just informed his colleagues and was himself now going to inform Crown Prince (at Phoui’s insistence, latter said). While he was informing Savang he wished Phoui to inform me.
At conclusion of message Phoui asked if I had anything which I wished him to tell Souvanna. I said I had brief response to make which I trusted would be absolutely clear. First, to act in haste meant to repent at leisure. If Souvanna’s government today presented PL for inclusion in Cabinet this would mean that their word was being accepted and that RLG was not exacting any tangible proof of good faith from them. I was of firm opinion that they must show by acts that they intended to abide by their commitments before RLG took such drastic step. Communiqué had been revised to eliminate words “same day”, in that two provinces would have to be turned over in fact before coalition government presented to Assembly. What Souvanna was now proposing was not even “same day”. It was to accept PL before even a symbolic act on their part had taken place. I said I thought that any government which acted in such a precipitate way would not enjoy confidence of my government. Having acted in such a way we would have no confidence in its capacity to enforce agreements. Furthermore, it would be evident to my government that RLG placed no value on US assistance in future or on US advice. Neither I nor any American could guarantee that our government could continue in such circumstances to aid Laos in face of public and Congressional reaction to this kind of performance by RLG. I said that if on other hand matters proceeded in orderly way without undue haste or risk I would hope for understanding re action on part my government. I said I regretted that I did not have opportunity to say all of foregoing directly to Souvanna but I hoped that Phoui would [Page 1013] convey message directly and if necessary I was available at any moment to repeat it.
Phoui took notes of what I said and promised to convey it faithfully. I said I disliked speaking so brutally but I was convinced that my reaction would prove not to be an overstatement to my government’s reaction to such a precipitate decision on Souvanna’s part. I imagined Phoui himself could believe foregoing representative of US reaction as he had had benefit of talking directly in Washington with highest officials in Department. Phoui nodded assent. He then said he was glad that I had put informal paper which I gave him October 25 (Embtel 6602) as first point that US could not be cited as being in favor of these (RLG–PL) agreements, because Souvanna had from time to time alleged that Americans were going along with him. I said that what I had written and what I had said spoke for itself and repeated that I would be glad to tell Souvanna directly my reaction to Souvanna’s proposal.
I went on to tell Phoui that I had been speaking through him to the Prime Minister. Now I wished to speak to him both as Foreign Minister and friend. I said I was at his service if I could in any way help in meeting situation which he had described. He then said he had sent Ngon to round up independents, brief them and prepare their position. He indicated, but in restrained manner, that he did not approve of Souvanna’s method nor his actions. (Holliday, whom I met by chance, had also run into Phoui just after latter had heard news and said Phoui was furious at Souvanna’s “doublecross”.) Phoui added he had just been summoned to see Crown Prince; so I asked him to give my reaction as set forth above to Savang also. I then asked that when decision had been taken I be informed, to which Phoui readily assented. Assembly is scheduled to meet at 11 today and we hear from French advisor that Souvanna has requested two speeches be prepared, one for presentation, enlarged government as planned and one for presenting government which also included PL representatives. I hope to report further in several hours.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751J.00/11–157. Secret; Niact. Repeated to Paris, London, Saigon, Bangkok, and Phnom Penh.↩
- Document 485.↩