Evening star., 1961-04-02

believes that it is essential right
now to agree definitely on the
date and place for the convo-
cation Of such a conference
and, for its part, suggests that
it should be called early in
April at Phnom PENN.
Just as the government of
Great Britain, the Soviet gov
ernment considers desirable the
earliest termination of hostili-
ties in Laos.
The statement of the So
Wet side, made to the AmbaS-
sador of Great Britain in Mos
COW on February 18 of this year,
pointed out that in the opinion
of the Soviet government the
task in Laos is "above all to
discontinue the military opera
tions there and to achieve a
peaceful settlement under
which the unity and integrity
Of Laos would be respected and
interference in its internal af-
fairs would be cut short" This
is why the Soviet government
favors the proposal that the
two co-chairmen of the &C.
neva Conference should issue
an appeal for a cease-fire in
Laos.
The Soviet government also
agrees to convene the interna-
tional commission for supervi-
sion and control in Laos. The
international commission for
Laos must meet in Delhi as
soon as possible and submit
its report to the two co-chair-
men Of the Geneva meeting.
Of course, resumption of the
commissions work must in no
way impede the convocation of
the above said international
SOIlle tIlCe Oli bdOS.
The aide memoire of the gov
ernment of Great Britain
speaks Of the need to resolve
"the question of a neutral gov
ernment Of national unity in
Laos. The question Of the
Laotian government is, natu-
rally. an internal affair of the
LaotianS themselves. The So
Wet government, as the govern
ments of many other European
and Asian states, is known to
believe that Laos has the lawful
government Of His Highness
Prince Souvanna Phouma,
which abides by strict neutral
ity, stands for the restoration
of the unity Of internal forces
and enjoys the support of most
of the country'S population.
The rebellion against this
government, raised by a group
of plotters relying on outside
military assistance, was en-
gineered precisely for the pur-
pose of doing away with Laos
neutrality in international af-
| fairs.
OF course, the Soviet govern
ment would favor negotiations
among various political trends
in Laos on easures to
strengthen the country's ma
tional unity. II the parties to
these negotiations do not reach
the necessary agreement by the
time the international confer
ence on Laos meets. the Soviet
government does not rule out
that the conference. as moved
also by the government of
Great Britain. will assume, as
one Of its tasks, the rendering
of assistance to Laotians in
reaching agreement.
In conclusion, the Soviet
government deems it necessary
to- draw the attention of the
government of Great Britain
to the fact that he settlement
Of the Laotian problem on the
basis Of safeguarding the peace,
independence and neutrality of
this country requires the main
tenance Of an international at
moSphere favoring the solution
of this task.
1t goes without saying that
the threats of interference in
the affairs Of Laos by the
SEATO military bloc and the
tactics Of sabre-rattling, used
of late by certain powers, far
from promoting this, may seri-
ouSly aggravate the matter of
settling the Laotian problem.
The Soviet government ex-
presses the hope that the gov
ernment Of Great Britain will
find acceptable the proposals
set forth in this aide memoire.
proposals which the Soviet gov
ernment has drawn up with due
account for the considerations
of the government of Great
Britain, guided by the sincere
desire to restore peace in Laos
as quickly as possible with a
view to inSuring the independ-
ence and neutrality of this
/ rO11nfY,u