Office of the Historian

492. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Laos1

Washington, November 1, 1957—1:13 p.m.

469. To Parsons from Robertson. Your 700.2 Strongly endorse stand you have taken with Phoui on Souvanna attempt enlarge Cabinet with two PL representatives. If this coalition has already gone through, reassessment indicated letter last November 13 would now appear necessary. Request your views this point as well as form reassessment, if any, should take.

In light present critical situation do you feel message from Secretary to Crown Prince would be helpful? We do not wish commit Secretary’s prestige if events indicate solution to PL problem unfavorable to US already reached. If however you believe such message helpful and timely, request your recommendation re contents.3

Dulles
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751J.00/11–157. Secret; Niact. Drafted by Kocher and approved by Robertson. Repeated to Paris, London, Saigon, Bangkok, Phnom Penh, and CINCPAC for POLAD.↩
  2. Supra.↩
  3. In telegram 709 from Vientiane, November 2, the Embassy recommended that for the present the United States should reserve the possibility of a message to the Crown Prince from the Secretary. (Department of State, Central Files, 751J.00/11–257)↩