Office of the Historian

138. Telegram From the Delegation to the Conference on Laos to the Department of State0

Geneva, July 18, 1961, 5 p.m.

Confe 408. From Harriman for Secretary. Re Department telegram 2222.1

Now that conference seems on verge serious negotiations re texts documents which will eventually incorporate any results we may be able achieve here, I feel Dept should be aware my thought re prospects future conference work. It is my assumption we will talk our way through an initial examination documents on neutrality and protocols on controls, setting all our disagreements aside “in one basket” for later bargaining purposes. I further assume that bloc will take care to preserve extensive number disagreements on controls in order maximize their bargaining position in discussion neutrality drafts, I expect to be sticky such subjects as census and withdrawal foreign military forces, French military presence and SEATO.

Once these disagreements thus isolated, we will enter serious phase of horse trading and compromise. It is manifestly impossible conduct this sort of business in group of fourteen or sixteen delegations. Therefore, only practicable solution would appear to be small informal discussions among big five (US, UK, France, Soviets and ChiComs). If I am expected to make serious effort reach agreements on documents, I must interpret my instructions re ChiCom contacts in such manner as to permit me discuss matters of substance directly, and if necessary, bilaterally with ChiCom reps. While some of these discussions can be conducted by our deputies, the nub of understanding will have to be worked out among delegation heads.

As far as I can yet determine, Wang Ping-Nan does not play precisely the same central role he did in 1954 Conference and, while he may eventually prove to be most fruitful contact point, it may also develop that American-educated Chang Han-Fu will be key man. Therefore, unless you explicitly enjoin me from working with ChiComs as indicated above, I plan to agree to suggestion already made by MacDonald for big five discussions and expect to hold such talk with ChiComs as appear useful.

  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751J.00/7–1861. Top Secret; Limit Distribution. Received at 5:42 p.m.↩
  2. Document 117.↩