Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, East Asia-Pacific Region; Cambodia; Laos, Volume XVI

298. Letter From the Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs (Parsons) to the Ambassador in Laos (Smith)¹

Washington, December 1, 1959.

Dear Horace: My reply to your telegram No. 1300 of November 8² included mention of a personal letter to follow. This is that letter and I think you will understand why we have chosen a private means of communication for your eyes alone.

Without going into detail, the impression created by your telegram on readers here is that there has been a lack of coordination within the country team. This stems in part from your references to “dichotomy” here and in Embtel 1307.³ As Ambassador you, of course, are the coordinator of the country team. Executive Orders 10,575 and 16,580 and Department of State Circulars 58, July 24, 1956 and CG–264⁴ cloak the Chief of Mission with clear authority to assure effective coordination. If there are disputes which can not be resolved, there are procedures for referral to Washington. I do not think that we had previously been made aware that the situation was so serious [4½ line of source text not declassified]. The authority you have as Ambassador should be sufficient for coordination but if it is not, please inform us what authority or direction you feel is required.

The second point I wish to make involves the propriety of the Ambassador, as coordinator of the country team effort, joining in the criticism voiced by one member of the country team. To join, in confidence, with one member in criticism of much of what other members are doing under your guidance as Ambassador, is likely to be damaging to your position with those other members. Actually, it appears to us that Tobler was also criticizing you and all your predecessors who have had the responsibility for our affairs in Laos.⁵ Your joining with a country team member also creates problems here for us, given the broad scope of the telegram and your concurrence in the position taken by the representative of one Washington agency. It is our view that the Ambassador must maintain his prestige and position as the President’s representative and must in no way imply that he himself is merely a member—not the leader—of the country team.

I have discussed this matter with Loy Henderson and have reviewed also your telegram No. 1307 and Deptel 1095. In view of the latter telegram which was cleared with Messrs. Dillon and Saccio prior to dispatch, I am not commenting further on your message No. 1300 except from the administrative viewpoint to urge that you enjoin upon drafting officers the importance of brevity and clarity as well as careful organization of content. Excessively long telegrams place an inordinate strain on our resources and it is essential that you review draft messages carefully from the standpoint of economy of language.

Sincerely yours,

J. Graham Parsons⁶

1. Source: Department of State, FE Files: Lot 61 D 6, Smith. Secret; Official–Informal. Cleared in draft by Henderson.
2. Regarding telegram 1300, see footnote 2, Document 288. Parsons’ reply is telegram 1095, Document 295.
3. See footnote 3, Document 289.
4. Executive Order 10575, November 6, 1954, is entitled “Foreign Aid Function, Administration of.” (19 Fed. Reg. 7249) The reference to Executive Order 16580 is apparently in error. Circular 58 and CG–264 have not been identified.
5. Parsons was Ambassador to Laos May 1956–February 1958.
6. Printed from a copy that bears this typed signature.