Office of the Historian

434. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Laos0

Washington, November 9, 1962, 4:50 p.m.

503. Ref A. Deptel 446,1 B. CHJUSMAG Bangkok MADC–L, C.2 Vientiane Toaid 412, D. Vientiane A–104.3 State/Defense message.

Presidential meeting on Laos Nov. 8 reconfirmed authorization and emphasized desirability for assistance to neutralist forces (Ref A) through established MAP. If processed through Souvanna (rather than direct from Kong Le to Amb as indicated in Ref D), fulfillment of reasonable requests can be used to demonstrate further our determination to support Souvanna’s efforts and as means of widening gap between neutralists and PL forces. Assistance should also be used as means of establishing regular channel of contact with Kong Le and other neutralists. Request you consider best means making such contacts perhaps through military attache [less than 1 line of source text not declassified]. For present, supplies should be generally limited to select health and comfort items of the type contained in Kong Le request in Ref D, and should be screened by Country Team with advice from DepCh JUSMAG as may be desired. Request cited Ref B considered of appropriate magnitude and consistent with objective of demonstrating our desire to back Souvanna without detracting from FAR program to extent would endanger our effort to sustain cooperation between Phoumi and Souvanna.

Rusk
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751J.5/11–962. Secret; Priority; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Cross, cleared by Koren and in substance with Forrestal, and approved by Harriman. Repeated to London, Paris, Bangkok for JUSMAAG, and CINCPAC.↩
  2. In telegram 446, October 16, the Department agreed that Souvanna’s request for assistance was in line with U.S. policy objectives and could bring Souvanna and Phoumi together. (Ibid., 751J.5/10–1562)↩
  3. Not found.↩
  4. Dated October 14. (Department of State, Central Files, 751J.56/10–1462)↩