318. Editorial Note
On December 30, Phoui Sananikone and his Cabinet submitted their resignations to King Savang Vatthana stating that it was impossible for them to continue to conduct the affairs of Laos. On the next day the Chief of the Lao General Staff, General Sounthone, on behalf of the “Supreme Command Armed Forces,” announced that the Lao Armed Forces would maintain order and security until a legally-constituted government was set up. During the early morning of December 30, the Lao Army occupied the principal public buildings in Vientiane and surrounded the residence of the King. In a second communiqué on December 31, the “Supreme Command of the Armed Forces” announced that its five members, Generals Sounthone, Sing Rathanamay, Ouan Rathikoun, Amkha Soukhavong, and Phoumi had been received by the King and had been instructed by him to maintain order and security within Laos. In subsequent communiqués, the Supreme Command declared that the powers of the National Assembly and its mandate had expired after December 25, 1959, and all acts of the Assembly after that date were null and void. The texts or summaries of the texts of the communiqués on and after December 31 were transmitted in telegrams 1905 and 1921 from Vientiane, January 2 and 4, 1960. (Department of State, Central Files, 751J.00/1–260 and 751J.00/1–460)