231. Editorial Note
On July 13 and 16, Assistant Secretary of State Parsons met with representatives of the French, British, and Lao Embassies in Washington to coordinate a joint approach for gaining India’s acceptance of the French-U.S. joint training plan for the Lao National Army. The four governments agreed to assure the Indians that the plan was necessary, non-provocative, and designed solely to enable the Lao National Army to fulfill its internal security function. The French would assure the Indian Government that the plan involved no real change in their responsibilities under the Geneva Accords of 1954. The U.S. representative in New Delhi was to inform the Indians that the U.S. role was technical and in no way foreshadowed Laos joining the SEATO organization. If asked, the British representatives in New Delhi would inform the Indians that the plan did not violate the Geneva Accords of 1954. In addition, the representatives of the four nations agreed upon procedures for announcing the new training plan. (Circular telegrams 47 and 54, July 13 and 16; Department of State, Central Files, 751J.5/7–1359 and 751J.5/7–1659, respectively)
On July 22, the U.S. Chargé in New Delhi advised the Indian Foreign Office of the French-U.S. plan. (Telegram 235 from New Delhi, July 22; ibid., 751J.5/7–2259) On July 23, a joint French-Lao declaration announcing the new training plan was made at the French Foreign Ministry’s daily press conference. There was no initial press interest in the announcement. (Telegram 356 from Paris, July 24; ibid., 751J.5/7–2459)
All the telegrams described, except telegram 356 from Paris, are included in the microfiche supplement.