Office of the Historian

290. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Laos0

Washington, February 6, 1962, 5:28 p.m.

703. Department has concluded that endeavors press Phoumi negotiate in good faith no longer hold promise success and has therefore concluded time has come to direct negotiation with Souvanna. However this can not take place while Nam Tha being attacked or in enemy hands.

You should therefore request Addis that he immediately go (Feb. seventh) to Souvanna Phouma with message from us to effect that when Souvanna Phouma calls off his attack on Nam Tha (or if Nam Tha already [Page 616] fallen he withdraw from it) USG would be prepared to sit down and negotiate with him directly on coalition government we could accept. While we convinced Phoumi will not negotiate in good faith and that we will be faced with one obstacle after another which he will put up to avoid doing so, it clear we can not put strong sanctions on Phoumi until Souvanna assures us he willing and able to agree to government we can accept. Our intention is for you, Addis and Falaize to negotiate directly with Souvanna in Xieng Khouang and/or Luang Prabang as soon as fighting stops.

Wish reemphasize that mission by Addis should not hold up other negotiations for cease-fire. It obvious we can not discuss coalition government with Souvanna until attack on Nam Tha ceases.

Foregoing discussed with British here. British will send separate message.1

Rusk
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751J.00/2–662. Secret; Niact. Drafted by Cross, cleared by Rice and Cleveland, and approved by Harriman. Repeated niact to London and to Bangkok and Paris.↩
  2. Not found.↩