226. Editorial Note
On May 21, at the 407th meeting of the National Security Council, Allen Dulles gave his briefing on “Significant World Developments Affecting U.S. Security.” He reported on developments in Laos as follows:
“Mr. Dulles commented on the serious difficulties which had occurred in Laos as a result of the revolt of two battalions of troops which had formerly been part of the Pathet-Lao Army. The two battalions had not yet been integrated into the Royal Lao Army. One of the two battalions had surrendered but most of the members of the other battalion had fled into the bush. This incident, coupled with others, had greatly disturbed the Chinese Communists and the Viet Minh. There was a strong move sponsored by the communist powers to reconvene the International Control Commission (ICC) in order to study these developments which were described as alarming and a threat to the peace. The situation had been further complicated by the flight into Laos of some 500 hardened Chinese Nationalist forces who had been driven out of Burma. Meanwhile, negotiations between the French and the Laotians were going on with respect to the establishment of a U.S. training mission for the Royal Laotian Army. It was quite plain that the Laotians did not wish any French forces to remain to train the Laotian Army, a point of view which was rather embarrassing to the U.S. It was of course of great importance that the U.S. [Page 538] military training mission be successfully constituted.” (Memorandum of discussion by Gleason, May 21; Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, NSC Records)
At the next meeting of the Council, the 408th on May 28, Allen Dulles reported again on developments in Laos:
“In Laos the Pathet-Lao brigade which had refused to be integrated with the Royal Laotian Army was still in the bush and was still resisting pressure to join the Royal Army. This situation was giving much concern, rather more political than military in character, because the Communists were exploiting it at the same time as an excuse to demand the reconvening of the International Control Commission. If the Commission were to be reconvened, this would be a step backward in the development of U.S. relationships with Laos. At present we could not be sure that the British would resist the Communist demand.” (Memorandum of discussion by Gleason, May 28; ibid.)