366. Telegram From the Embassy in Laos to the Department of State1

294. Addressees pass to interested agencies. Ref: Deptel 171.2 We have received request from Phoumi for 10 million kip to help him retake Vientiane and statement he plans drop tracts over Vientiane today telling of resistance. Based on reftel we have instructed [less than 1 line of source text not declassified] PEO representatives Savannakhet as follows:

“You should advise PhoumiUS is not at this stage prepared support him in forcible effort (A) retake Vientiane or (B) prevent establishment new government. He should not drop tracts Vientiane. This based on specific instructions from Washington.”3

Brown
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751J.00/8–1560. Secret; Limit Distribution. Repeated to Bangkok, Saigon, Phnom Penh, and CINCPAC for POLAD. Received at 1:35 p.m.
  2. Printed as telegram 172 to Bangkok, Document 364.
  3. In telegram 176 to Vientiane, August 15, the Department informed the Embassy that this message was approved. (Department of State, Central Files, 751J.00/8–1560) In telegram 298 from Vientiane, August 16, 10 a.m., Brown reported that an Embassy official delivered the message to Phoumi at 4 a.m. on August 16, and that “Phoumi nodded politely but said he would proceed with his original plan” to take Vientiane by force. (ibid., 751J.00/8–1660; included in the microfiche supplement) Phoumi’s plan to retake Vientiane is described in a telegram from Felt to JCS, 162113Z August. (Department of State, Central Files, 751J.00/8–1660; included in the microfiche supplement)