232. Editorial Note
At the 415th meeting of the National Security Council, July 30, Allen Dulles gave his usual briefing on “Significant World Developments Affecting U.S. Security.” Dulles and Dillon discussed Laos as follows:
“Mr. Dulles reported that in Laos local communist forces aided by volunteers from across the border had taken control of part of the province of Sam Neua but not the town of Sam Neua. This activity might be due to a number of factors, including the desire of the communists to prevent U.S. training of Laotian forces. It might also be a probing action coordinated at the highest levels of the communist plotting organization. The Laotians have recently improved their government and the communists may be beginning an effort to overthrow that government. The situation requires close attention.
“Secretary Dillon said that from the U.S. standpoint Laos had achieved outstanding success in the last year in strengthening its political stability. The communist Pathet-Lao had agreed to re-unify with the idea that the communists would be able to penetrate the government. However, the government had excluded the communists, who had accordingly lost influence while the government had steadily gained in strength. The U.S. troop training program had strengthened the government still more. The communists appear to be chagrined and unwilling to admit that they have failed.” (Memorandum of discussion by Gleason, July 30; Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, NSC Records)