Office of the Historian

83. Telegram From Secretary of State Rusk to the Department of State0

Oslo, May 7, 1961, 7 p.m.

Secto 7. Have reviewed papers prepared by Conference Task Force including those written night prior departure.1 After opportunity consult and reflect during flight here I offer following as over-all concept on approach to Geneva Conference for your guidance and comment:

(1)
We take stand for completely demilitarized Laos; gradually shorn of all weapons of war except minimum appropriate for internal constabulary. We emphasize such status best suited in view of geographic position, religious and cultural institutions and temperament of a pacific people.
(2)
We strike positive note of bold new program for Laos; avoid recriminations and discussions of past but set as conference goal acceptance of a new Laos unmolested and neutral but assisted in her nation-building processes by multilateral aid administered initially through safe international body.
(3)
The conference should direct its efforts after accepting this broad concept to establishing a control commission or commissions to begin complex tasks of control, inspection, demilitarization and administration of internal development. Would prefer neutral nations-type organization with UN blessing to undertake this mission.
(4)
If successful in accomplishing foregoing would then recommend conference adjourn giving pacification machinery opportunity to work and to report to a reconvened conference in six months. Terms of reference and tasks to be performed would be clearly set forth.

Realize above skeleton leaves many unanswered questions and details but establishes concept only. My hope would be such a plan would result in a new charter for Laos based for future referenced on 1961 agreements of 14 nations rather than fitting it into the limiting framework and otherwise unsatisfactory aspects of the 1954 Accords.

Rusk
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751J.00/5–761. Top Secret; Niact; Limit Distribution. Rusk was in Oslo for the Ministerial Meeting of the North Atlantic Council, May 8–10.↩
  2. A complete set of briefing papers for the Geneva Conference is ibid., Conference Files: Lot 65 D 366, CF 1873. See also Document 81.↩