72. Telegram 122371 From the Department of State to the Embassy in Laos, May 26, 1975, 0049Z.1 2
TELEGRAM
Department of State
122371
DRAFTED BY EA: J. OWEN ZURHELLEN,
JR.
APPROVED BY THE SECRETARY
M: MR. EAGLEBURGER
AID: MHUNTINGTON
S/S-O: PK JOHNSON
Z 260049Z MAY 75
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO AMEMBASSY
VIENTIANE
E.O. 11652: GDS
TAGS: PFOR, LA
SUBJECT: MESSAGE TO PRIME MINISTER SOUVANNA PHOUMA
- 1.
- PLEASE DELIVER FOLLOWING LETTER FROM THE SECRETARY TO PRIME MINISTER SOUVANNA PHOUMA:
- 2.
- BEGIN TEXT. YOUR HIGHNESS: MR. CHAPMAN HAS KEPT ME INFORMED ON THE COURSE OF EVENTS IN LAOS DURING RECENT DAYS, AND I HAVE FOLLOWED WITH KEEN INTEREST THE EFFORTS OF YOUR HIGHNESS AND YOUR GOVERNMENT TO MAINTAIN THE TRADITIONAL TIES OF FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN OUR TWO COUNTRIES. AS YOU KNOW, I HAVE INSTRUCTED MR. CHAPMAN TO COMPLY WITH YOUR DESIRE TO HAVE THE UNITED STATES AID MISSION TO LAOS WITHDRAWN AS AN ENTITY. WHILE RESERVING FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION THE QUESTION OF THE FUTURE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN OUR GOVERNMENTS IN THE AID FIELD. IN ACCORDANCE WITH THAT DECISION, THE PERSONNEL OF THE AID MISSION AND THE MEMBERS OF THEIR FAMILIES ARE BEING BROUGHT HOME AS RAPIDLY AS THE MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION PERMIT, AND [Page 2] WE ARE TAKING OTHER STEPS TO REDUCE THE SIZE OF OUR EMBASSY IN VIENTIANE TO THAT NECESSARY TO CARRY OUT NORMAL DIPLOMATIC FUNCTIONS IN OUR NEW RELATIONSHIP.
PARTICULARLY IN VIEW OF THE SPEED AND AMITY WITH WHICH YOUR GOVERNMENT AND OURS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO AGREE TO THESE MOVES, I AM DEEPLY CONCERNED THAT AN APPARENTLY HOSTILE ATTITUDE ON THE PART OF CERTAIN GROUPS IN LAOS HAS HINDERED OUR ABILITY TO REMOVE OUR PERSONNEL AND CARRY OUT OTHER WORK WITH THE FREEDOM THAT IS GUARANTEED UNDER THE VIENNA CONVENTION ON DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS TO WHICH LAOS AND THE UNITED STATES ARE PARTIES. OUR PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HINDERED FROM GOING IN AND OUT OF THEIR HOMES AND OFFICES, THEIR PERSONAL BAGGAGE HAS BEEN SEIZED AND SEARCHED IN VIOLATION OF DIPLOMATIC PRACTICE, AND OUR EMBASSY HAS BEEN THEREBY HANDICAPPED IN CARRYING OUT ITS IMPORTANT TASK OF WORKING WITH THE LAO GOVERNMENT ON THE FURTHERANCE OF OUR MUTUAL INTERESTS.
I CANNOT BELIEVE, YOUR HIGHNESS, THAT THESE ACTIONS ARE ANYTHING OTHER THAN THOSE OF A MISGUIDED FEW WHO DO NOT COMPREHEND THE SANCTITY OF DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITY AND THE NEED, FOR THE SAFE OF ALL GOVERNMENTS, FOR THE UNHINDERED RIGHT OF REPRESENTATIVES OF OTHER COUNTRIES TO CARRY OUT THE ESSENTIAL TASKS OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN NATIONS. I APPEAL TO YOUR HIGHNESS, THEREFORE, TO TAKE THE NECESSARY MEASURES FOR THE IMMEDIATE RESTORATION OF A STATE OF RELATIONS CONSISTENT WITH OUR FRIENDSHIP OF SO MANY YEARS. IN ALL CANDOR, YOUR HIGHNESS, I MUST TELL YOU THAT IF THESE ACTS AGAINST US PERSONNEL CONTINUE WE WILL HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO CLOSE OUT OUR DIPLOMATIC MISSION TO THE KINGDOM OF LAOS COMPLETELY.
PLEASE ACCEPT, YOUR HIGHNESS, THE ASSURANCES OF MY HIGHEST CONSIDERATION. HENRY A. KISSINGER. END TEXT.
KISSINGER
- Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Country Files for East Asia and the Pacific, Box 12, Laos, State Department Telegrams, From SECSTATE, Exdis. Secret; Flash; Exdis. Drafted by Zurhellen; cleared by Eagleburger and Huntington; approved by Kissinger. In WH 50942/TOHAK 009, May 27, Scowcroft informed Kissinger, then traveling in Europe: “The President was very quiet this morning. He was pleased to see that the Embassy in Laos would be reduced to less than 50 people. My impression is that he would be sympathetic to closing it down entirely.” (Ford Library, NSC Files, HAK Trip Files, Box 9, May 26–June 3, 1975, Europe, TOHAK, 1)↩
- The Department conveyed a message from Secretary Kissinger to Prime Minister Souvanna Phouma concerning U.S.-Lao relations.↩