388. Letter From the Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs (Bundy) to the Ambassador in Laos (Sullivan)1
Dear Bill:
I have done some research on the problem presented in your letter2 describing several recent utterances by Souvanna concerning Mr. Nixon. I thought I should get this reply back to you before November 5, so that you could prepare the way in case this is how things turn out.
What I have done is to check Mr. Nixon’s recent published utterances, without finding anything conspicuously helpful. However, equally, his statements in the last few years—and so far as I can tell during this campaign—are wholly free of the past strictures against neutrals and “neutralism” which in part account for Souvanna’s attitude. In other words, the written record gives no basis for positive reassurance, but equally no basis for renewal of the fears that might have been held a decade ago.
More to the point, I have talked to two senior people in the Nixon camp, both of whom are intimately familiar with his views on the Laos settlement of 1962 and on the existing dispensation in Laos, including Souvanna personally. They assure me that, far from having the slightest feeling against Souvanna or any trace of the old quarrels of the late 1950’s, Mr. Nixon fully supports the 1962 settlement and Souvanna’s personal position, and—to the best of these gentlemen’s knowledge—has considerable personal admiration for all that Souvanna has accomplished for his country in recent years.
You can draw on this in any way you see fit, including the use of my own name as the quiet intermediary. I do really believe that the Prince has no warrant for any concern that Mr. Nixon would change course at all either on the fundamentals of the Viet-Nam war or on Laos both in itself and its relationship to Viet-Nam. In short, whatever Mr. Nixon said in the 1950’s and whatever may have been his degree of association in the period when we forced Souvanna out (and Phoumi in), he really has no [Page 756] present feelings that would be anything but cordial and approving toward Souvanna and the Laos of today.
I am most grateful to you for writing me on this. Obviously, it is a fairly sensitive kind of thing, but I do believe it is our duty as servants of the US to correct misapprehensions of this sort where we can honestly do so—as we can here. Naturally, a great many foreign visitors, Ambassadors, and one or two special emissaries sent for this particular inquiry, have been asking what Mr. Nixon’s Asian policies would be. His Foreign Affairs article of October, 1967, is an excellent answer in almost all cases, but does not happen to touch on Laos. Everywhere else in the area, people seem to be fairly sanguine about his succeeding, including specifically Indonesians and even the Burmese Foreign Minister. If it would help to relay that these “equally neutral” gentlemen have come to feel that Mr. Nixon understands their postures, you may include this in the conversation—which may be at whatever level of solemnity or bibulousness you feel most effective.
New subject: I have just called Charles Lucet to convey to him, man to man, your bright ideas about linking the LCU men to the recent Greek festivities and/or what may or may not be coming events. He treated the matter in his usual solemn fashion, but I think took the point and will relay it in the right key. I said please to convey it as a Gallic suggestion from Gallic imaginations, rather than the product of stodgy American establishment minds. (I claimed credit for the idea myself, but the historical record will be clear on the basis of this letter.)
I am neither downcast nor the reverse. Hold your hat. With warm regards.
Yours ever,
P.S. We have some indications that Souvanna’s man in Saigon is being fed rumors of dissension between us and the GVN. We are trying to dry up the source.
P.P.S. Hearty congratulations on your Embassy’s brilliant success in dynasty/cultural matrimony. Seriously, please convey my warmest good wishes to the Princess.4
- Source: Department of State, Bundy Files: Lot 85 D 240, Ambassador’s Private Correspondence, 1967–68. Secret; Personal—Eyes Only.↩
- In an Official-Informal letter to Bundy, October 1, Sullivan reported that shortly before the Republican Presidential convention, Souvanna told Sullivan that if Nixon were elected Souvanna would resign. Sullivan thought that Souvanna was only expressing his preference for Humphrey whom he had gotten to know well. On September 30 Souvanna asked how the election was going and Sullivan suggested that Nixon could win. Souvanna repeated in ringing tones his intention of resigning if Nixon won. Sullivan asked Bundy’s advice on how to handle what could become a serious problem. (Ibid.)↩
- Printed from a copy that bears this typed signature and following initials.↩
- Cultural attaché at the Embassy, Perry L. Stieglitz, married Princess Moune, daughter of Souvanna Phouma on October 22.↩