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  3. Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, East Asia-Pacific Region; Cambodia; Laos, Volume XVI
  4. Document 382

382. Telegram From the Embassy in Laos to the Department of State 1

Vientiane , August 25, 1960—midnight .

385. Manila for MLG. Addressees pass interested agencies. Arrangements for pay being pressed urgently here. We giving all assistance. Rice problem covered separate message.2

Message delivered Souvanna orally with some changes. Text follows: “We are encouraged by recent reports of agreement between you and Phoumi for common effort to reestablish security Vientiane and in country generally and for establishment firm constitutionally based government. USG has become deeply concerned by reports indicating deterioration of situation around Vientiane as well as by need to support army in field. Phoumi has been informing US representatives in field of his growing difficulties in supplying his troops. In answer [Page 825] Phoumi’s pressing requests, we informed him as I informed you we would continue to meet army’s financial and logistical needs. We have also told him we continued hope solution which all patriotic elements could support can be achieved by peaceful means. Such solution ensuring Pathet Lao should not benefit would have our full support. You and Phoumi can count on our support in efforts to reach it.” Souvanna expressed appreciation US support and efforts find peaceful solution.

Message to Phoumi 3 sent unchanged. Believed sending EmbOff would be misinterpreted. Have advised Addis substance messages. His reaction reported Embtel 387.4 Will see Falaize and Zellweger tomorrow.

Resuming use State channels. Others used yesterday because reports delay receipt State messages.

Brown
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751J.00/8–2560. Secret; Priority. Repeated to Bangkok, Paris, Phnom Penh, Saigon, London, Manila, and CINCPAC for POLAD.↩
  2. Apparent reference to telegrams 381 and 383 from Vientiane, both August 25. (Both ibid., 751J.551/8–2560; included in the microfiche supplement)↩
  3. See supra .↩
  4. According to telegram 387, August 25, British Ambassador Addis was “shocked” that the United States had expressed confidence in Phoumi as the main barrier to the Pathet Lao because it might make him more unwilling to compromise with Souvanna. (Department of State, Central Files, 751J.00/8–2560; included in the microfiche supplement)↩