Office of the Historian

397. Memorandum From the Joint Chiefs of Staff to the Secretary of Defense (Gates)1

JCSM–415–60
Washington, September 16, 1960.

SUBJECT

  • Situation in Laos (U)
1.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff believe that the situation in Laos remains serious. Revolutionary forces led by Prince Boun Oum, an anti-communist, seek to displace the Souvanna Government. The military forces are in danger of disintegrating into several factions thus losing their capacity to effectively contain communist insurgency.
2.
It is still believed that an immediate and aggressive support of General Phoumi, which he has not yet received, would be desirable. However, the status of General Phoumi is now changed as he no longer holds and consistently refuses to accept office in the legal Royal Laotian Government.
3.
The Department of State is working toward formation of a government in Laos headed by a respected and non-controversial Laotian whom General Phoumi can be persuaded to support.
4.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff are in agreement with the views of the Commander in Chief, Pacific.2
5.
Accordingly, the Joint Chiefs of Staff propose that you recommend to the Secretary of State as a matter of urgency the following measures be undertaken:
a.
Commence supplying FAL units via Phoumi using PEO [less than 1 line of source text not declassified] facilities as appropriate in lieu of Ouane/Souvanna channel as indicated State to Vientiane 299.3
b.
Advise Phoumi to prepare for submittal to King broadest possible successor government to Souvanna Phouma with distinguished, anti-communist civilian (Boun Oum or Kou Abhay) as Prime Minister. If need be, Souvanna Phouma could be included in harmless post or given major diplomatic assignment to prevent exploitation by PL.
c.
Encourage Phoumi with King’s blessing promptly to liquidate Kong Le coup group even at cost of some bloodshed.
d.
Persuade Sarit to arrange discreet transit of FAL troops through Thailand from Savannakhet to Vientiane.
e.
Prepare promptly establish new government as “Neutral” not through rapprochement with bloc but through reiteration of traditional Laotian neutrality.4
For the Joint Chiefs of Staff:
Arleigh Burke
Chief of Naval Operations
  1. Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 330, OSD Files: FRC 64 A 2093, 092 Laos. Top Secret.↩
  2. The views are set forth in telegram 142358Z from CINCPAC to JCS, September 14. (ibid., OSD/ISA Files: FRC 64 A 2170, 092 Laos)↩
  3. See footnote 9, Document 394.↩
  4. A note in the margin next to paragraph 5e reads: “No, see Lansdale memo.” On September 16, Lansdale sent Irwin a memorandum commenting on this memorandum. Lansdale agreed with recommendations 5a through 5d, but he could not accept “neutrality” which he saw as strategically unsound. (Washington National Records Center, RG 330, OSD/ISA Files: FRC 64 B 2170, 092 Asia; included in the microfiche supplement)↩