Office of the Historian

247. Central Intelligence Agency Information Report1

September 6, 1966.

[document number not declassified]

SUBJECT

  • An appraisal of the political situation in Laos as of 4 September 1966

ACQ

  • [less than 1 line of source text not declassified]

SOURCE

  • Staff officer of this organization. This [less than 1 line of source text not declassified] appraisal of the current situation. [less than 1 line of source text not declassified] is not an official judgement by this agency or any component. It represents the observations and interpretations of a staff officer based on information available to him at the time of its preparation.

1. Summary. Although there is a temporary lull in the political confrontation between Souvanna Phouma and the National Assembly, the factors that caused the crisis still exist. Souvanna’s political demands were emotionally inspired and were not to achieve specific political objectives. During the crisis, anti-Souvanna sentiment and the concept of an inevitable change of government increased in scope; however, Assembly leadership failed to provide a formula of alternate leadership and failed to develop a widespread desire to bring down Souvanna’s government. The King’s view that it was essential to retain Souvanna government was presented to the Assembly by Dr. Oudom Souvannavong; however Oudom was not in Vientiane when it came to a showdown. The army played a major role in preserving Souvanna as Prime Minister and dispatched officers to persuade deputies to tone down their attacks. Senior generals were prepared to support Souvanna temporarily; but said that time is coming for a change. Lao Armed Forces’ schedule calls for a gradual assumption of power through political means. Souvanna’s government could fail as a result of: ill conceived vote of censure or no confidence by Assembly; or as a result of an over-reaction by the young-power seeking colonels to a crisis in Vientiane. However, Souvanna will probably not lose his mandate before the Assembly closes in October. The real-power seekers are trying to wear Souvanna down, and, at the same time, are building up their own political machine which will arrange an orderly transition of power.

[Here follows a 10-page report.]

  1. Source: Johnson Library, National, Security File, Country File, Laos, Vol. XVI, Memos, 2/66–1/67. Secret; No Foreign Dissem.↩