After Japan's surrender in August, Prince Phetsarath moved to unite the southern provinces with the now independent Luang Phrabang. This put him at odds with King Sisavong and the royal court, the King had already agreed with the French that he intended to have the country resume its former status as a French colony. Prince Phetsarath urged the King to reconsider and sent telegrams to all Laotian provincial governors notifying them that the Japanese surrender did not affect Laos' status as independent and warned them to resist any foreign intervention. On 15 September he declared the unification of the "Kingdom of Laos" with the southern regions; this caused the King to dismiss him from his post as Prime Minister on 10 October.