123. Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs (McConaughy) to the Under Secretary of State (Bowles)3
SUBJECT
- Contingency Plans for Support of Meo
This refers to your oral request to Mr. Scott regarding the status of contingency planning for future support of the Meo tribesmen in Laos.
We have been providing arms, ammunition, and other support to about 7,700 Meo tribesmen in Laos who are members of the Auto-Defense Corps of the Lao Army. Most of these are situated in Northern Laos back of the enemy lines. Owing to the hostilities, a large number of Meo and their dependents have lost their usual means of livelihood. Owing to their traditional enmity to the Viet-Minh and PL, their future in any post-Geneva Laos is quite uncertain.
We are now giving emergency relief aid to approximately 10,000 Meo refugees. This number may increase by 3 to 4,000. Because of the [Page 264] destruction of their crops and their failure to plant, relief may be required over the next 18 months, at least, and may cost between $3 and $5 million.
In view of the current negotiations at Geneva, we have considered internationalizing this aid program by requesting the League of Red Cross Societies to undertake it. However, our Mission in Geneva pointed out that it would not be desirable for a third party to make such an approach at this time and suggested that a more appropriate request emanate from Vientiane. We are cabling our Embassy there to make this suggestion to the Lao Government.
The Country Team in Vientiane is studying the subject of the overall problem of assistance to the Meo during conditions likely to prevail after the Geneva Conference.
- Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, Laos: General, 6/27/61–6/30/61. Secret. Sent through J.W. Scott, INR/DDC. Drafted by Cleveland and cleared by Anderson and Chapman.↩