384. Paper Prepared by the Assistant White House Staff Secretary (Eisenhower)1
SYNOPSIS OF STATE AND INTELLIGENCE MATERIAL REPORTED TO THE PRESIDENT
Laos
State feels that there are two hypotheses regarding the agreement between Phoumi and Souvanna.2 The optimistic hypothesis is that the two have gotten together to unify Laotians against Pathet Lao. The gloomy hypothesis, which appears to be borne out by the actions of Souvanna in the last few days, is that Souvanna is aiming to head a fully legal government which would compromise with the Pathet Lao and accommodate with Hanoi. To accomplish this, Souvanna would have to neutralize Phoumi rather than Kong Le.
State feels, therefore, that the U.S. must play a cautious game. If the meeting between Souvanna Phouma and the king at Luang Prabang results in a government in which Phoumi is a member (which now appears to be the case), then the U.S. could lend its support to that government. If Phoumi is excluded from the government, however, then we believe we must take every precaution to protect Phoumi against Souvanna. At this moment we are attempting to get the troops paid and fed to retain their loyalty. The situation is complicated by the fact that Ouane, the army chief of staff under Souvanna, is embittered by Phoumi’s recent accusation that he is a Communist.
Many things are transpiring to keep the situation highly confused. The French still insist that Kong Le represents “deep feeling in Laos.” Indeed, the rumor is strong in Vientiane that the French were behind this coup. Brown is optimistic to the extent that the Luang Prabang meeting will bring forth a government more pro-Western than the present Souvanna and perhaps even Phoumi.3
The enigma in the whole situation is Kong Le who has stated that if the Luang Prabang assembly forms a cabinet not to his liking, he will replace Souvanna. The Pathet Lao radio has taken a position that since the assembly has repudiated its former action in Vientiane and is now meeting in Luang Prabang, it is subjecting itself to the same duress in reverse as it was before. Thus, as a gimmick, the Phoumi group hopes that Somsanith will withdraw his resignation and convene [Page 828] the assembly in his old position prior to the formation of a Souvanna government.4
[Here follows material on subjects unrelated to Laos.]
- Source: Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, Eisenhower Diaries. Top Secret.↩
- Set forth in telegram 245 to Vientiane, August 27. (Department of State, Central Files, 751J.00/8–2660; included in the microfiche supplement)↩
- Reported in telegram 417 from Vientiane, August 29. (Department of State, Central Files, 751J.00/8–2960; included in the microfiche supplement)↩
- Reported in telegram PEO 2400, from Fromer at Luang Prabang to the Department of State, August 29. (Department of State, Central Files, 751J.00/8–2960; included in the microfiche supplement)↩