Office of the Historian

481. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Laos1

Washington, December 8, 1960—8:05 p.m.

604. Should situation develop favorably following is check list of urgent desiderata to be accomplished with cooperation of friendly government authorities:

1.
Authority use CAT airlift.
2.
Authority supply arms, ammo all friendly forces.
3.
Release kip for pay troops, police, civil servants, etc.
4.
Cancellation mission to Peiping–Hanoi.
5.
Movement to Savannakhet or Luang Prabang of deputies at Chinaimo.
6.
Assembly action to replace present government with one dominated by Phoumi–Phoui and royal approval thereof.
7.
Declaration of neutrality (albeit Westward leaning, and in such a form as not to preclude assistance needed from West).
8.
Offer to negotiate “national reconciliation” with NLHX (not with expectation of settlement but to avert if possible widespread armed insurgency while RLG unstable and country weak).

We would also expect to stimulate expressions of support for new government by UK, Australia and other friends of Laos and of hope country may be allowed live in peace without outside interference.2

Herter
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751J.00/12–860. Secret; Niact. Drafted by Parsons and cleared by SEA. Repeated to Bangkok, Saigon, Phnom Penh, London, Paris, and CINCPAC for POLAD.↩

  2. In telegram 624 to Vientiane, December 12, the Department of State added two additional items to the list of desiderata:

    • “1. Request by new government that USSR stop airlift to Vientiane.
    • “2. Withdrawal of RLG’s recognition of Soviet Government with earliest departure Soviet Ambassador and staff.” (ibid., 751J.00/12–1260)

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