Foreign Relations of the United States, 1961–1963, Volume XXIV, Laos Crisis

376. Memorandum From Michael V. Forrestal of the National Security Council to President Kennedy⁰

Washington, May 24, 1962.

Presidential Meeting on Laos

The meeting today is primarily to bring you up to date on the situation in Laos. Reports will be given on the following topics:¹

A. Political

(1) Progress toward a resumption of the three Prince negotiations.

(2) U.S. efforts to stimulate the negotiations and U.S. plans for broadening the political base on the RLG.

(3) U.S. planning for the period following the formation of a government of national union, including the role expected of the FAR; and the status of planning for other contingencies, such as a breakdown of negotiations or of the cease-fire.

B. Military

(1) Relative capability of the FAR to Communist forces now and after the withdrawal of foreign forces from Laos, and the mission to be assigned the FAR.

(2) Measures being recommended for the strengthening of the FAR, and progress in obtaining General Phoumi’s cooperation in military matters.

(3) Plans for coordination of multi-national forces in Thailand in the present situation, and status of Thai/US bi-lateral planning for the defense of Thailand.

(4) Status of CINCPAC capabilities, in terms of forces and reaction times, to respond to contingencies.

0. Source: Kennedy Library, President’s Office Files, Countries, Laos Security, 5/11/62–5/28/62. Secret.
1. A report, drafted by Sullivan and Cross on May 24, in response to section, “A. Political,” is ibid, Meetings and Memoranda Series, NSAM 157. It is printed as an attachment to Document 379. This report was apparently a product of an inter agency working group established under the chairmanship of William Sullivan; see Document 370.