336. Editorial Note
In a memorandum to Secretary of State Rusk, July 4, 1963, Department of State Counselor Rostow proposed that Harriman during his mission to Moscow inform the Soviets that “we have firm evidence that the Viet Minh are violating the Geneva Accords by their continued presence in Laos and infiltration of South Vietnam” and that “unless Viet Minh troops are withdrawn and infiltration ceases we shall shortly have to take compensatory action against North Vietnam.” For text, see Foreign Relations, 1961–1963, volume III, pages 454–455. During his negotiations in Moscow, Harriman asked Chairman Khrushchev to attempt to restrain North Vietnamese activity in Laos but did not address the issue of Laos as an infiltration corridor into South Vietnam. For more information, see ibid., page 454, footnote 2.