484. Paper Prepared by the Assistant White House Staff Secretary (Eisenhower)1
SYNOPSIS OF STATE AND INTELLIGENCE MATERIAL REPORTED TO THE PRESIDENT
Laos
Military reinforcements for a possible attack on Vientiane by General Phoumi apparently are continuing to arrive in that area. In the capital itself, an extreme leftist cabinet minister, Quinim Pholsena, reportedly has taken charge of the government in the absence of Souvanna and the remainder of his cabinet. Souvanna, now in Phnom Penh, is said by his associates to be planning to send some cabinet members to Hanoi, Moscow, and Peiping to seek active support for the neutralization of Laos as formerly proposed by Cambodian chief of state Prince Sihanouk. Meanwhile, reliable sources on 11 December observed four howitzers, approximately equivalent to US 105-mm [Page 1004] howitzers, being unloaded from two Soviet aircraft at Vientiane airfield; this matériel, probably the forerunner of other supplies, may have been arranged for during Quinim Pholsena’s recent trip to Hanoi.
We feel the flight of Phouma and all non-leftist members of his government, with the resultant polarization toward the Pathet Lao and Savannakhet of the situation in the Vientiane area, on the one hand somewhat reduces the political risk which would be involved in a CAT airlift to that area, and on the other hand greatly enhances the need for an urgent buildup of the Kouprasith–Phoumi forces. Augmentation of the airlift is left to Brown’s judgment.
[Here follows material unrelated to Laos.]
Laos—continued
King Savang in Luang Prabang is reliably reported to have signed on 12 December a royal ordinance ousting the Souvanna Phouma government and temporarily transferring all powers to General Phoumi’s Savannakhet Revolutionary Committee. This action followed a National Assembly vote of no confidence against Souvanna, taken at a meeting in Savannakhet. It appears that the deputies will soon go to Luang Prabang, where the King has convoked a special session of the assembly to deal with the formation of a new government. The most likely choice to be the new premier is Prince Boun Oum, co-leader with Phoumi of the Revolutionary Committee. Phoumi himself will probably be assigned major portfolios, including in all likelihood that of defense.
Meanwhile, reports of increased Pathet Lao military pressure in the Luang Prabang area may indicate an intent to harass or capture the royal capital.
The buildup of both Kong Le’s and [Phoumi’s forces?] around Vientiane is continuing.
[Here follows material unrelated to Laos.]
- Source: Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, Eisenhower Diaries. Top Secret.↩