439. Memorandum From Michael V. Forrestal of the National Security Council Staff to President Kennedy0
POSSIBLE VISIT OF PRINCE SOUPHANOUVONG OF LAOS TO THE UNITED STATES1
Consideration is being given to the possibility of either inviting or permitting Prince Souphanouvong (the figure head of the Pathet Lao faction) to visit the United States early next year. The reasons favoring such a visit are as follows:
Souphanouvong is believed to be an intense Lao nationalist as well as a Communist. He is also believed to be the most energetic and intelligent of the native Lao leaders. He is one of the two Vice Premiers (Phoumi being the other) and is also Minister of Economy and Plan, which puts him in a critical position with respect to U.S. economic assistance to Laos. He is said to have expressed a wish to visit this country.
In recent months, evidence has been accumulating that Souphanouvong’s position in the Pathet Lao organization may be slipping. He is probably third or fourth in power, real authority being exercised by Kaysone and Nouhak, who are Hanoi’s representatives in Sam Neua. Nevertheless it is quite certain that Souphanouvong is the best known Pathet Lao leader and has the greatest political stature in his own country. It is thought that a trip to the United States would enhance Souphanouvong’s prestige at home—possibly at the expense of other Pathet Lao leaders. If the reports of his technical competence and his energetic Lao nationalism are accurate, a carefully planned visit to this [Page 926] country might also have the effect of impelling him to realize that the United States has considerable resources in technical assistance which would be of particular value to his country.
We also know that Souphanouvong suffers an ailment which is gradually impairing his hearing and for which he received some treatment when he was in Moscow last. There is a possibility that we might also be able to give him some medical assistance for his hearing trouble.
Governor Harriman, Ambassador Unger, and [less than 1 line of source text not declassified] all believe that such a visit by Souphanouvong is desirable from a foreign policy standpoint (Vientiane’s 894 attached).2 Governor Harriman recognizes the domestic political problem but thinks it is not insuperable if the trip is properly handled. Governor Harriman suggests, subject to your approval, that I discuss the possibility of such a trip with Ambassador Unger in Vientiane next month, and that we indicate through Souvanna Phouma that the U.S. would not be averse to receiving Souphanouvong if he wished to visit this country. Such a visit would be as informal as we could make it and would be largely confined to technical matters in which Souphanouvong is interested, i.e. American technology in agriculture, civil engineering, mining, and the like. Whether or not he should see you is a question which can be postponed, and which would depend upon his attitude while here. (Chairman Khrushchev was particularly cordial to General Phoumi in Moscow earlier this month.)
There is also a possibility that Souphanouvong may accompany the King of Laos on his trip in February, assuming that we have no objection; and if this be the case, we might suggest that he stay on for a technical visit after the rest of the party leave the country.
You are being asked now only to approve the idea of a visit in principle, leaving the details to be worked out here and in Vientiane.
- Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, Laos: General, 10/62–12/62. Secret. Drafted by Forrestal.↩
- At the daily staff meeting at
the White House on December 11, Taylor’s aide, Major Laurence
Legere, wrote an account of staff discussion of the
possibility of inviting Souphanouvong to Washington, which reads:
“Mike thought it would be a good idea to invite to Washington Prince Souphanouvong. This amused Bundy a bit in that he said he was not sure what Souphanouvong could constructively accomplish in Washington except lunch with ‘Averell and Marie’. However, there is no question whatever that he left the subject sufficiently open for Forrestal to continue to explore it, presumably with Governor Harriman and others. After the meeting, Dave Klein and I, independently outraged by this suggestion, approached [less than 1 line of source text not declassified], Mr. Chester Cooper of CIA, and found them equally outraged. I believe that they will undertake to have CIA turn out a blistering appraisal of Souphanouvong so as at least to have something on the record with which the ‘doves’ will have to cope.” (National Defense University, Taylor Papers, White House Daily Staff Meetings, October 1962–February 1963, T–122–69)
↩ - Dated December 18, not attached. (Department of State, Central Files, 751J.00/12–1862)↩