71. Editorial Note
Ambassador at Large W. Averell Harriman made a tour of Southeast Asian nations to obtain an assessment of the situation and to offer support to U.S. allies during the crucial period before implementation of the cease-fire. On April 29, he met with Thai Foreign Minister Thanat Khoman. An account of their discussion is in telegram 1946 from Bangkok, April 29. (Department of State Central Files, 751J.00/4–2961) Harriman left that evening for Vientiane and proceeded to Luang Prabang, arriving at noon on April 30. There he met with King Savang, Prince Sihanouk (who was using the state funeral in Luang Prabang as an occasion to try to reconcile differences between the Lao factions), Phoumi Nosavan, and Boun Oum. The Department sent Harriman instructions for his discussions with Savang, Phoumi, and Boun Oum in telegram 1191 to Vientiane, April 29. (Ibid.) Harriman’s discussions with Phoumi and Boun Oum, with Savang, and with Sihanouk are in memoranda of conversation, April 30, and telegram 1998 from Vientiane, May 2, respectively. (All ibid., 751J.00/4–3061 and 751J.00/5–261) Harriman also summarized his conversations with the anti-Communist Lao for the President and Secretary Rusk in Document 74.
On May 2, Harriman accompanied by Ambassador Durbrow and joined by General Lyman Lemnitzer, who was also in Southeast Asia following the CENTO Council Meeting at Ankara, April 27–28, met with President Diem to discuss both the South Vietnamese and Laos situations. Accounts of these discussions are in telegrams 1659 and 1673 from Saigon, May 3 and 4. (Department of State, Central Files, 751J.00/5–361 and 751J.00/5–461)
On May 3, Harriman returned to Phnom Penh and had a 50-minute interview with Sihanouk in the early evening of that day. Harriman’s instructions are in telegram 976 to Phnom Penh, May 1, and an account of that meeting is in telegram 1368 from Phnom Penh, May 4. (Both ibid., 751J.00/5–961 and 751J.00/5–461) Harriman had expected to meet with Souvanna Phouma in Phnom Penh, but Souvanna sent a telegram explaining that he was delayed by a storm in Phong Saly. Since Harriman was scheduled to meet with Thai Prime Minister Marshal Sarit the next day, he told Sihanouk he could not wait for Souvanna. Harriman’s discussion with Sarit is reported in telegram 1979 from Bangkok, May 5. (Ibid., 751J.00/5–561) Harriman left Thailand for India where on May 5 he discussed Laos with Indian Prime Minister Nehru and then he returned to Washington. The Nehru-Harriman discussion is in a memorandum of conversation, May 5. (Ibid.)