192. Editorial Note
On August 18, at 2 p.m. Vientiane time, the government of Phoui Sananikone was invested by a vote in the National Assembly of 29 in favor, 21 opposed, 8 not voting, and 1 abstention. The cabinet included the following:
Phoui Sananikone as Prime Minister and Minister of Planning, Public Works, and Telecommunications;
Katay Sasorith as Vice Premier and Minister of Interior and Defense;
Bong Souvannavong as Minister of Education, Public Health, and Cults;
Khamphan Panya as Minister of Foreign Affairs; and
Thao Leuam as Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs. (Memorandum from Alfred leS. Jenkins to Walter S. Robertson, August 18; Department of State, Central Files, 751J.00/8–1858)
At the 377th meeting of the NSC on August 21, in his briefing on “Significant World Developments Affecting U.S. Security,” Allen Dulles gave the following assessment of the Phoui Sananikone government:
“Turning to Laos, Mr. Dulles pointed out that a new compromise Cabinet had been formed which really pleased no one. While there had been no Communist penetration of the new Cabinet, it contained many old figures like Katay who were notoriously corrupt. There were also four representatives of the younger and more progressive politicians whose influence, unhappily, Mr. Dulles thought would not amount to much. The new Cabinet constituted neither a victory nor a defeat for our side. It was not likely, however, to prevent the further growth of pro-Communist influence in Laos, and the end result might well be a military coup to prevent a Communist take-over.” (Memorandum of discussion by Gleason; Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, NSC Records)