248. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Laos0
571. Eyes Only from Secretary.
Assume you will be seeing Souvanna at first appropriate opportunity in order to move forward negotiations with or without direct participation RLG, and that you will also be concerting your efforts with British and French.
This telegram confirms that you have full authority to take action necessary to bring about formation of coalition government we can accept. This means that if you find Souvanna is prepared to negotiate for a reasonable composition of government and if Boun Oum and Phoumi continue their obstructive tactics, you are free to take such action as you may consider necessary to achieve our objectives, even to the point of informing Boun Oum and Phoumi that we will no longer support them and so inform the King, urging him to call for their resignation and appoint a new Prime Minister prepared to carry on negotiations in good faith.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751J.00/12–2761. Top Secret; Niact. Drafted by Harriman and Cross, cleared by Koren in draft, and approved by Rusk. Repeated priority to Bangkok.↩