Office of the Historian

166. Telegram From the Chief of the Program Evalution Office, Laos (Brown) to the Commander in Chief, Pacific (Stump)1

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

2862/3005. Cite PEO 223-58 from Brown. Ref DTG 140115Z.2

1.
During Ambassador Parsons’ Jan visit stateside he was granted special fund of $500,000 to be used at his discretion to enhance conservative chances in forthcoming election.
2.
Utilizing these funds, the country team is starting a crash program of village level political impact projects to increase village awareness of RLG concern with their problems and the reality of American aid. Types of projects envisaged as follows: Digging wells in drought areas; a visit of two Operation Brotherhood teams; construction of small irrigation dams; minor road construction; furnishing materials for construction of school houses; provision of publicity equipment, projectors, printing of election material for conservative candidates; provision and staffing of a political campaign headquarters and a network of provincial coordinators to assist conservative candidates and, in particular, to supply their material requirements.
3.
The ANL is being directed by RLG to consider the support of civic action its primary mission. Regional commanders through the volunteer battalions have been instructed to back up civic action to the fullest extent possible. Auto-defense units will also be utilized to their maximum capability.
4.
The country team believes that CINCPAC could materially assist in carrying out the above pre-election program by furnishing the following personnel and material: 1 qualified planner and 1 individual particularly qualified in the psychological aspects of political campaigning against the Communists to be furnished Chief, PEO as soon as possible and to remain until the election period is over. 8 additional end use observers with proper knowledge of the French language and conditions in Southeast Asia to be furnished Chief, PEO during the pre-election period. Chief PEO also requests immediate authority to expand the auto-defense program to a strength of 16,000. The auto-defense program can be furnished necessary blankets, salt, rations and so forth from army stocks. Requisitions will be submitted to cover replacement of items used in this program. A minimum fleet of 6 H–19 helicopters complete with pilots, maintenance personnel and spare parts backup should be furnished as soon as possible. [Page 431] Helcopters to operate under [less than 1 line of source text not declassified] a commercial contract. Additional radios may be required by the ANL. The type and number of sets required will be forwarded in a separate message.3 Emergency requisitions for engineer spare parts may also be required. Break the deadlock on furnishing POL to ANL so that a supply of POL will be available and can be distributed to all ANL units supporting the pre-election campaign. Without POL ANL cannot function. Authorize Chief PEO to expend not to exceed 25,000 US dollars for additional CAT aircraft to support ANL in pre-election campaign.
5.
With full backing by CINCPAC as indicated above, and with full cooperation by all other agencies in Southeast Asia, the country team feels that a major effort can still be made in Laos, provided action is taken quickly, which will have a definite positive impact on the political campaign in orienting it toward the election of conservative or pro-West candidates.
  1. 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.↩
  2. Printed as telegram 0011/0027, Document 164.↩
  3. Not found.↩