361. Editorial Note
On August 13, a crowd of demonstrators led by 2d Battalion paratroopers marched on the National Assembly in Vientiane demanding removal of the Somsanith government. They were addressed briefly by Souvanna Phouma who then returned to preside over the Assembly. After an extensive session during which the demonstrators outside the Assembly threatened to attack the Assembly building, the [Page 791] Deputies passed a vote of censure of the Somsanith government. The Assembly sent a delegation of four Deputies to Luang Prabang with the censure motion and a request that the government resign. On the afternoon of August 13, Somsanith sent General Ouan Ratikon to Vientiane to assess the intentions of the coup leaders. Negotiations in Vientiane and Luang Prabang continued during August 14 among the competing elements in the political crisis, but without resolution. Later in the day, the Somsanith Cabinet resigned, and at 6:55 p.m. the King accepted the resignations.
Information on the course of the deliberations is in telegram 282 from Vientiane, August 14, and telegrams 259 and 260 from Bangkok, August 14 and 15. (Department of State, Central Files, 751J.00/8–1460, 751J.00/8–1460, and 751J.00/8–1560, respectively) The political developments of August 13 and 14 are also part of joint situation reports made by Department of State, Army, [less than 1 line of text not declassified], and ICA representatives [3 document numbers not declassified], (Eisenhower Library, White House Office Files, Staff Secretary Records, International Series, Laos Situation Reports)
All the documents described are included in the microfiche supplement.