496. Telegram From the Embassy in Laos to the Department of State1
716. Department pass CINCPAC for POLAD. Following is revised translation proposed joint RLG–PL communiqué distributed among deputies November 1 and expected to be published next week:
Begin text:
Joint communiqué of His Highness Prince Souvanna Phouma, RLG Prime Ministers, His Highness Prince Souphanouvong, representative of the Pathet Lao Fighting Forces.
In the superior interest of the nation, in order to comply with the profound aspirations of the people, for peace and the general reconciliation of all the Lao according to the recommendations of the Geneva agreement and in application of the joint declarations of August 5 and 10, 1956, the joint communiqué of December 28, 1956, and the various agreements reached.
His Highness Prince Souvanna Phouma, Prime Minister of RLG, and His Highness Prince Souphanouvong, representative of the PL fighting forces have had an exchange of views at meetings marked by cordiality.
RLG Prime Minister and the representative of the Pathet Lao fighting units agree by way of an enlargement of the present government to formation government of large national union including former Pathet Lao with the presentation of the new government will be preceded by an official handling over to RLG of the provinces of Phong Saly and Sam Neua and the Pathet Lao fighting units.
Insofar as the political program of the new government of national union is concerned the Prime Minister of the RLG and the representative of the Pathet Lao fighting units agree to adopt the action program of the present government as it is set forth in the speech of August 9, 1957 of His Highness Prince Souvanna Phouma.
The RLG Prime Minister and the representative of the Pathet Lao fighting units agree to consider the Neo-Lao-Hak-Zat as a political party which will enjoy the same rights and will be subject to the same obligations as other political parties legally created in the Kingdom as soon as the formalities of its creation will have been fulfilled in conformity with laws and regulations in force.
The RLG Prime Minister and the representative of the Pathet Lao fighting forces agree to re-establish effective RLG administration in the provinces of Phong Saly and Sam Neua and to integrate the [Page 1020] functionaries and PL military according to modalities to be defined by the political and military commissions; this integration carries along with it the disappearance in fact and in law of PL fighting units.
As for PL military, RLG promises to integrate them all in ANL. Within limit of budgetary availabilities those who desire to continue their service in the army will enlist in the ANL according to conditions set forth in regulations in force. Those who want to leave the service to return home will be integrated in the ANL reserves. RLG promises to give them as well as their families means of necessary transportation so that they can reach their villages as well as all facilities so that they can find means to earn a living.
The representative of PL fighting units promises to turn over to RLG all war material, notably arms and ammunition held by PL fighting units.
Insofar as PL functionaries are concerned who fulfill conditions required by RLG civil service regulations, RLG promises to appoint them to suitable assignments in the various administrative and technical services of the Kingdom according to modalities of execution which will be established by the Political Commission.
The Prime Minister of Royal Government and the representative of PL fighting units are agreed that the accord on cease-fire signed October 31, 1956 [is] already obsolescent by evolution of the situation. The former accord exacts that cessation of hostilities becomes a reality. To this end, the military commission will urgently define measures tending to implement immediately absolute ceasefire and will increase the number and means of mobile sub-commissions.
The RLG Prime Minister and the representative of the Pathet Lao fighting units recognize that difficulties of implementation exist and that general reconciliation remains still a complex task. Agreement having been fully reached on principles, they believe it is time now to settle thoroughly, agreements now in process of negotiations, the practical modalities for implementation. Substantial progress has already been made by the political and military commissions since the recent resumption of the negotiations. The present agreements under discussion deal primarily with practical measures to be adopted for the reestablishment in fact of the royal administration in the provinces of Phong Saly and Sam Neua and the integration of PL functionaries and PL fighting units. These texts will conclude negotiations. The Prime Minister of the Royal Government and the representative [of] the PL fighting units therefore direct the two commissions to pursue actively and determinedly their task and expect from them that the agreements under negotiation will be completed with shortest delay.
[Page 1021]Prime Minister of RLG and PL representative are satisfied with results of their present conversations which appear to them to forecast complete and early success of general reconciliation.
Prime Minister of RLG and representative of PL fighting units are absolutely confident in good-will, loyalty and efforts of two sides and hope that negotiations will lead in near future to final agreements.
Done Vientiane, November 1957.
In the name of RLG—the Prime Minister—signed: Prince Souvanna Phouma.
In the name of Pathet Lao fighting units—the representative—signed: Prince Souphanouvong.
End Text.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751J.00/11–357. Official Use Only. Repeated to Paris, London, Saigon, Bangkok, and Phnom Penh.↩