370. Paper Prepared by the Assistant White House Staff Secretary (Eisenhower)1
SYNOPSIS OF STATE AND INTELLIGENCE MATERIAL REPORTED TO THE PRESIDENT
[Here follows material on subjects unrelated to Laos.]
Laos
You have been brought up to date on the Laos situation in connection with the press conference.2 Phoumi’s people claim that the King is in secret sympathy with them. Meanwhile, Kong Le shows evidence of harboring political ambitions of his own. He has said that [Page 804] the Souvanna government is merely provisional (Souvanna has admitted as much)3 and that he himself would head the only political party permitted. Aside from Souvanna, the government is made up of second-rate officials.
Apparently Phoumi has a force moving north on the east bank of the Mekong River which has arrived at Paksane. Because of the rebellious nature of the political situation and the possibility of Phoumi taking military action, State has asked Ambassador Brown whether he sees a possibility of delay of investiture of the Souvanna government.4 Souvanna has said that he would negotiate with Phoumi but noted that under current conditions Phoumi would be acting as a rebel./3/ Brown says that military force is on Phoumi’s side, but legal right is on Souvanna’s side, and he has urged that we use our influence to bring them together to negotiate.5 The British were on the verge of making an official call on Souvanna as the head of the government but have temporarily held off.6 Of course, the question of our public support and recognition is still in the air.
[Here follows material on subjects unrelated to Laos.]
- Source: Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, Eisenhower Diaries. Top Secret.↩
- For the transcript of the President’s news conference of August 17, see Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1960–61, pp. 633-643. The President was asked one question on Laos.↩
- Reported in telegram 310 from Vientiane, August 16. (Department of State, Central Files, 751J.00/8–1660; included in the microfiche supplement)↩
- In telegram 184 to Vientiane, August 17. (Department of State, Central Files, 751J.00/8–1660; included in the microfiche supplement)↩
- Suggested in telegram 315 from Vientiane, August 17. (Department of State, Central Files, 751J.00/8–1760; included in the microfiche supplement)↩
- Reported in telegram 189 to Vientiane, August 17. (Department of State, Central Files, 751J.13/8–1760)↩