Office of the Historian

281. Memorandum of a Telephone Conversation Between the Secretary of State and the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs (Murphy), Washington, October 16, 1959, 4:45 p.m.1

Washington, October 16, 1959, 4:45 p.m.

Telephoned Mr. Murphy [less than 1 line of source text not declassified], Mr. Murphy said he did not think they overloaded Laos. Secy said Lodge is having a session with Hammarskjold, who is concerned about Laos, and asked what Mr. Murphy thought about Lodge telling Hammarskjold he has looked into the situation personally [less than 1 line of source text not declassified].2 Mr. Murphy thought that was all right. Mr. Murphy said, however, he felt perhaps now was the time for us in some way to show hurt feelings to Hammarskjold about his suspicions. Mr. Murphy said in this present Laos situation he thinks it is all right and we could pout a bit with Hammarskjold.

  1. Source: Eisenhower Library, Herter Papers, Phone Calls and Misc. Memos. No classification marking. There is no indication of a drafter.↩

  2. In telegram 418 from USUN, October 16, Lodge reported as follows:

    “Pursuant to call from Wilcox I telephoned SYG this afternoon and told him we had not instigated Phoui to come to New York and that we were against it, and that there were no ‘quiet Americans’ in Laos.

    “SYG said Sisouk had told him this afternoon that King was sick and Prime Minister might not come.” (Department of State, Central Files, 751J.00/10–1659)

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