January–March 1961: Transition from the Eisenhower to the Kennedy Administration


31. Memorandum of Conversation

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751J.00/3–1261. Top Secret. Drafted by Anderson and approved in S on March 29.


32. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Cambodia

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751J.00/3–1261. Top Secret; Niact. Drafted by Rusk and cleared by Parsons, Anderson, and Chapman. Repeated priority to Vientiane.


33. Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs (Parsons) to Secretary of State Rusk

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751J.11/3–1261. Secret. Drafted by Usher and cleared by Anderson, Chapman, and Steeves.


34. Notes by Secretary of State Rusk

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751J.00/3–1861. Top Secret. Delivered to Kohler at 10:30 a.m. on March 19. These notes are an addendum to the memorandum of a meeting, which lasted from 2:45 to 6 p.m., between Rusk and Gromyko. (Ibid.) Gromyko was in New York for a resumed session of the U.N. General Assembly and traveled to Washington for discussion on March 18. After seeing Gromyko, Rusk told the British and French Ambassadors that the length of the meeting was misleading, it could have been accomplished in less than an hour. Rusk said he tried to find out what the Soviets really expected to happen in Laos—the government they foresaw, their attitude towards continued fighting, their general estimate of the situation. Rusk stated that Gromyko was “completely elusive,” refused to give substantive answers, and repeatedly returned to the Soviet proposal that discussions on Laos must begin with an international conference. (Memorandum of conversation, March 18; ibid.)


35. Memorandum From the President’s Deputy Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Rostow) to President Kennedy

Source: Kennedy Libary, National Security Files, Countries Series, Laos: General, 3/20/61–3/22/61. Secret.


36. Memorandum for the Record

Source: Washington National Records Center, OASD/ISA Files: FRC 64 A 2382, 092 Laos 1961, Jan.–March. Top Secret.


37. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in India

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751J.00/3–2161. Secret; Niact. Drafted by Chapman, cleared with SEA and in draft by Parsons, and approved by Rusk. Repeated to Bangkok, London, Paris, Rangoon, Phnom Penh, and Vientiane.


38. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Laos

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751J.00/3–2161. Top Secret; Priority. Drafted by Parsons, cleared by Usher, and approved by Rusk. Repeated to CINCPAC for POLAD and priority to Bangkok.