255. Memorandum From the President’s Military Representative’s Naval Aide (Bagley) to the President’s Military Representative (Taylor)0
SUBJECT
- Brief Sum-up of Laos Political Situation
As you are aware, State has been conferring with the President and Mr. Bundy on the political situation in Laos.
Ambassador Brown has recommended early sanctions against Phoumi and has asked for guidance as to US action in case of PL or Phoumi initiated hostilities.1 State is studying the issue of sanctions and the related question of shifting support from Phoumi to Souvanna. The Secretary has held up any answer to the hostilities question.
A press announcement (presumably official) late today by State says aid sanctions were considered, but will not be levied; the hope for an early meeting of the Princes was expressed.2
State is in the meantime supporting a Geneva Conference-sponsored invitation for the 3 Princes to meet in Geneva3 (invitation will be issued on 5 January).4 Ambassador Brown has resisted State’s suggestion that he urge Boun Oum to attend, stating his previous threats in the name of the US make such an approach now out of the question.5
I understand the President has serious second thoughts on imposing sanctions on the RLG. He foresees a similar reaction to that which stemmed from Ambassador Gullion’s actions in the Congo, both suggesting US intrusion in a state’s internal affairs.
A meeting with the President is set for Saturday morning. Defense will participate (State made their first real overture to Defense on the situation today; Governor Harriman called Admiral Heinz in at 1600).
- Source: National Defense University, Taylor Papers, Laos 7, T–028–69. No classification marking. The source text is incorrectly dated January 4, 1961.↩
- See Document 253.↩
- Bagley is apparently referring to an earlier draft of a press guidance that formed the basis of an answer by Secretary Rusk to a question asked on the television program, “Reporters Roundup,” January 6 and broadcast January 7. For text of Rusk’s answer, see American Foreign Policy: Current Documents, 1962, pp. 1066–1067. In Rusk’s statement, however, there was no specific mention of U.S. consideration of aid sanctions; rather Rusk stressed that he did not believe that the suspension of the three Princes’ talks meant that they were terminated. Rusk stated that the Department of State was not abandoning hope for an eventual settlement.↩
- See footnote 2, Document 254.↩
- For text of the invitation, see American Foreign Policy: Current Documents, 1962, p. 1066.↩
- See Document 254.↩