Office of the Historian

I. U.S. Concern With the Coalition Government in Laos, January–August 19581

1. For previous documentation, see Foreign Relations, 1955–1957, vol. xxi, pp. 577 ff. A combined microfiche supplement to this volume and to volume xv will be published covering the East Asia-Pacific region, Cambodia, Laos, Burma, and Malaya.

159. Memorandum of a Conversation, Department of State, Washington, January 13, 1958, 2:30 p.m.

Washington, January 13, 1958, 2:30 p.m.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.51J/1–1358. Secret. Drafted by Patricia M. Byrne and concurred in by Kocher and Robertson. Souvanna Phouma was visiting Washington on an unofficial basis, January 13–16. Prior to his arrival, the Embassy in Vientiane sent an analysis of the general situation in Laos and background information on the military and political agreements between the Royal Lao Government and the Pathet Lao. (Telegrams 1114 and 1165 from Vientiane, January 3 and 10; Ibid., 033.51J11/1–358 and 033.51J11/1–1058) The Department of State prepared a briefing paper for Secretary Dulles, January 11. (Ibid., Conference Files: Lot 62 D 181, CF 956) The telegrams and briefing paper are included in the microfiche supplement.

161. Memorandum of a Conversation, Department of State, Washington, January 15, 1958

Washington, January 15, 1958

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751J.5–MSP/1–1558. Secret. Drafted by Kocher and concurred in by Robertson.

162. Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs (Robertson) to the Deputy Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs (Dillon)

Washington, January 24, 1958.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751J.5–MSP/1–3158. Secret; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Byrne and cleared by Kocher, Jones, Robertson, Saccio, and Barnes (U/MSA) in draft.

163. Memorandum for the Files by the Second Secretary of the Embassy in Laos (Dean)

Vientiane, February 11, 1958.

Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 84, Vientiane Embassy Files: FRC 63 A 172, 350 Laos, Political Affairs–Elections. Secret; Limited Distribution.

164. Telegram From the Commander in Chief, Pacific (Stump) to the Chief, Program Evaluation Office, Laos (Brown)

Honolulu, February 13, 1958—3:25 p.m.

Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 218, JCS Records, CCS 092 Asia (6-25-48) (2). Top Secret. Dispatched with date/time group 140115Z. Repeated to the CNO.

165. Letter From the Deputy Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs (Dillon) to the Director of Central Intelligence (Dulles)

Washington, February 15, 1958.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751G.5–MSP/2–1558. Secret; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Byrne and cleared by Kocher and Jones and Burn (U/MSA) and Ohly (ICA) in draft. [3½ lines of text not declassified]

166. Telegram From the Chief of the Program Evalution Office, Laos (Brown) to the Commander in Chief, Pacific (Stump)

Vientiane, February 25, 1958—6:47 a.m.

Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 218, JCS Records, CCS 092 (8-22-46) (2). Top Secret. Dispatched from USARMA Vientiane with date/time group 242347Z Feb 58. At CINCPAC, this telegram was renumbered as 252117Z Feb and sent for information to CGUSAFPAC, CNO, CGUSARPAC, and CINCPACFLT.

167. Telegram From the Commander in Chief, Pacific (Stump) to the Chief of Naval Operations (Burke)

Honolulu, February 27, 1958—7:15 a.m.

Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 218, JCS Records, CCS 092 Asia (6-25-48) (2). Top Secret. Dispatched with 270315Z Feb 58 date/time group. Repeated to CHPEO, CINCPACFLT, CINCUSARPAC, and CINCPACAF.

168. Memorandum From the Deputy Director of the Office of Southeast Asian Affairs (Whittington) to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs (Parsons)

Washington, March 14, 1958.

Source: Department of State, FE/SEA (Laos) Files: Lot 65 D 169, 350.01 Elections (Lao). Secret; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Byrne.

170. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Laos

Washington, April 7, 1958—7:42 p.m.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751J.00/4–458. Secret; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Corcoran, revised by Parsons, cleared by Whittington, and approved by Parsons.

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

Washington, May 5, 1958.

Source: Department of State, FE/SEA (Laos) Files: Lot 65 D 169, 350.01 Elections (Lao). Secret. Drafted by Corcoran and cleared by Parsons.

173. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Laos

Washington, May 15, 1958—7:41 p.m.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751J.00/5–1358. Top Secret. Drafted by Parsons, cleared by Kocher and Robertson, and approved by Parsons. Repeated to CINCPAC for POLAD, Paris, London, Saigon, Bangkok, and Phnom Penh.

174. Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs (Robertson) to the Secretary of State

Washington, May 17, 1958.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751J.00/5–1758. Secret. Drafted by Corcoran and cleared by Kocher and Parsons. A note on the source text indicates that the Secretary saw this memorandum.

175. Telegram From the Embassy in Laos to the Department of State

Vientiane, May 19, 1958—5 p.m.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751J.00/5–1958. Secret; Priority. Repeated to Paris, London, Saigon, Bangkok, Phnom Penh, and CINCPAC.

176. Telegram From the Embassy in Laos to the Department of State

Vientiane, May 22, 1958—8 p.m.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751J.00/5–2258. Secret; Niact. Repeated to Paris, London, Bangkok, Saigon, and Phnom Penh.

177. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Laos

Washington, May 27, 1958—8:15 p.m.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751J.00/5–2358. Secret; Priority. Drafted by Corcoran, cleared by Kocher and Parsons, and approved by Robertson. Repeated to Saigon, Paris, CINCPAC for POLAD, Bangkok, Phnom Penh, and London.

179. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Laos

Washington, May 29, 1958—2:10 p.m.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751J.00/5–2858. Secret; Priority. Drafted by Corcocan, cleared by Kocher and Parsons, and approved by Robertson. Repeated to Saigon, Paris, CINCPAC for POLAD, Bangkok, Phnom Penh, and London.

182. Telegram From the Embassy in Laos to the Department of State

Vientiane, June 4, 1958—9 a.m.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 851J.13/6–458. Secret; Niact.

184. Telegram From the Embassy in Laos to the Department of State

Vientiane, July 10, 1958—3 p.m.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 851J.13/7–1058. Secret. Repeated to Paris and CINCPAC for POLAD.

185. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Laos

Washington, July 17, 1958—8:43 p.m.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751J.00/7–1058. Top Secret; Priority. Drafted by Corcoran and cleared by Alfred leS. Jenkins, Floyd L. Whittington, and Parsons. Repeated to CINCPAC for POLAD, Paris, and London.

186. Telegram From the Embassy in Laos to the Department of State

Vientiane, July 20, 1958—9 p.m.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751J.00/7–2058. Top Secret; Niact.

187. Letter From the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs (Sprague) to the Deputy Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs (Dillon)

Washington, July 22, 1958.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751J.5–MSP/7–2258. Secret. A copy of this letter in the Washington National Records Center, RG 330, OSD/ISA Files: FRC 62 A 1698, 334 MAAG Laos, identifies Colonel Bingham as the drafter.

188. Telegram From the Embassy in Laos to the Department of State

Vientiane, July 29, 1958—10 p.m.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751J.00/7–2958. Secret; Niact; Limit Distribution. Repeated to CINCPAC for POLAD.