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

420. Memorandum From the Director of Intelligence and Research (Hilsman) to Secretary of State Rusk⁰

Washington, August 24, 1962.

SUBJECT

• Inside the Pathet Lao

As candidates for week-end reading, I recommend the two attached reports by¹ the First Secretary of the British Embassy in Vientiane describing his experience as a prisoner of the Pathet Lao.²

Mervyn Brown is a seasoned political observer and an excellent writer. The first report (Tab 1) is a narrative account of his captivity. Both as an adventure story and as a description of a little-known part of the world (Southern Laos, east of the Plateau de Bolevens), it is good reading.

The second report (Tab 2) is interesting for different reasons. Brown made full use of his unique opportunity to observe the Pathet Lao and reaches a number of conclusions that seem germane to policy problems that lie ahead.

Brown says, for example,

• —that at least in Southern Laos the Pathet Lao is not a Communist, but an anti-colonial and nationalist movement;
• —that the local leader, Sithone Kommadom, and his followers accept Souphanouvong as their leader, but respect both Souvanna as Prime Minister and his goal of neutrality;
• —that, contrary to our expectations, there is in Southern Laos neither a program of political indoctrination nor one of improving the economic lot of the peasant;
• —and, most interesting of all, that the Pathet Lao in Southern Laos are drawn almost entirely from tribal minorities, whom the Lao hold in contempt, and that this will cause them trouble in a struggle for political domination.

0. Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, Laos: General, 8/23/62–8/27/62. No classification marking. A handwritten note by Hilsman on the top of the source text reads: “Mike [Forrestal]—I think the President might be interested in this. Roger.” There was no indication that the President saw this memorandum.
1. Attached, but not printed.
2. On August 17, five U.S. prisoners and one Filipino prisoner were flown on a Soviet plane with a Soviet crew from Plaine des Jarres to Vientiane where they were released to U.S. officials. Two prisoners held military rank, Major Bailey and Sergeant Ballenger; others were civilian employees of the U.S. Government. The Filipino was a contract technican. All were in good spirits; Bailey was noticeably weaker than the others who were in good to excellent health. (CHMAAG telegram ML 4194 to CINCPAC, August 17; Department of Defense, OSD Historical Office, Secretary of Defense’s Cables, Laos)