davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1961-04-30
THE WEEK IN PERSPECTIVE
Laos: A Study in Intentions

Laos, a relatively small little
kingdom in the Southeast Asian
area that was once French IndO-
China, was the focal point Of
the cold war as the week ended.
President Kennedy yesterday
had challenge in his hands, and
very little opportunity to toss it
elsewhere.
The issue was an inherited one,
as are almost all the issues of the
administrations emerging foreign
policy. But what made it more
difficult than usual was the fact
of United States isolation. 1t was
abundantly clear that neither
Britain nor France was prepared,
under any circumstances, to sup
port politically or militarily a firm
American stand on the future Of
Laos.
The situation was this as the
National Security Council met yes
terday in an extraordinary Satur-
day session: The rightist regime of
Prince Boun Oum, supported by
the United States and depending
on the military might of Gen.
Phoumi NoSavan, was steadily los
ing ground to the Communist
backed Pathet Lao. The Soviet
Union and Britain had agreed on a
ceaSe-fire in Laos, but the agree
ment set no time limit, and the
Pathet Lao forces drove on, very
obviously seeking the best possible
position before hostilities were
ended.
Evening star., 1961-04-30
oot-Drogging

But the Kennedy administration
made no secret Of its resentment
of Communist foot-dragging. The
State Departments feeling was
predominantly one of bitterness
at what appeared to be Communist
duplicity:
Would there be cease-fire and
orderly negotiations, or would the
rebel forces continue to seek every
possible advantage before an arm
iStice?
The Pathet Lao forces yesterday
were less than so miles from the
royal capital Of Luang Prabang.
where lavish Buddhist rites yes
terday laid to rest the dead King
Sisavong Wong. who died 18
months ago.
Laotian custom requires that a
deceased monarch be treated over
a period of months with an
elaborate embalming process be-
fore the ceremonies of a funeral.
The departed ruler, after suitable
rites, is entombed in the Plaine
des Jarres, literally the place of
jars, for the body is encased in
glass.
The funeral of the late King
offered an occasion for the gath
ering together of the Princes of
Laos who differ so widely in their
political affiliations. But Prince
Souvanna Phouma, still recognized
by the Communist bloc as the
legitimate Premier of Laos, and
his half-brother, Prince Soupha-
nouvong, leader Of the Pathet
Lao, were not present at the
obsequies.
Evening star., 1961-04-30
Morton's Position

Senator Morton of Kentucky,
the chairman of the Republican
National Committee, in a speech
last Thursday, was like the base
ball batter who has a count of
three balls and no strikes and is
told to let the next one go. The
next one is a big, fat pitch down
the middle.
The Senator did not exactly let
1t go, as he discussed the Cuban
affair. While he said that this
was no time for recriminations or
attacks which would tend to tie
the Presidents hands, the Ken
tuckian declared:
There is broad mood of patri-
otto resentment at the failure of
an American backed and sup
ported attempt by Cuban exiles
to overthrow the Castro dicta-
torship.
II will simply ask the country
and the Congress to consider what
the Democratic leadership and
spokeSmen would have said had
Dick Nixon landed us in this
predicament."
Earlier this month, in his
"Chairman's Fact Memo" sent to
Republican leaders over the coun-
try, Mr.. Morton was highly criti-
Evening star., 1961-04-30
Happy Costro:
New Gamble?

Fidel Castro, secure in his
successful repulse of an anti
Castro Invasion" was predict
ing last week that the United
States would undertake a new
Intervention in Cuba.
With a vituperative assist from
MoscoW's "Pravda," Cuban Pre-
mier Fidel Castro was predicting
all week that the United States
would attack his island empire di-
rectly, in order ito destroy the
fruits of the revolution and rein
Stitute Imperialism.
Mr.. Castro held out at least
bit of hope to the rebels captured
in the abortive invasion" by
Cuban exiles, an adventure that
has rocked the United States Gov
ernment to its foundations and
placed the Kennedy administra-
ton squarely in the middle of an
uncomfortable dilemma. In a
characteristicly lengthy television
harangue, Mr.. Castro suggested
that all the captives need not
necessarily face the firing squad.
Mr.. CaStro's President, Osvaldo
Dorticos Tornado, appealed on
Thursday for a new attempt to
settle United States Cuban diff
ferences by negotiations. He got
a speedy rebuff. Lincoln White,
the State Departments press Off
Ger, declared in response to ques-
tions that communism in this
hemisphere is not negotiable"
That was that.
Evening star., 1961-04-30
Navy Moneuvers

Administration sources denied
that United States Navy forces
in the Caribbean were preparing
for action against Cuba. "Ordi-
nary maneuvers" were being car
ried out, the State Department
said, and all the talk of a planned
United States invasion of Castro'S
Cuba was just cheap propa-,
ganda."
President Dorticos told the dip
lomatic corps Friday that the
United States was indeed plan
ming an invasion Of Cuba. He
charged a definite program, in
preparation with consultations
with other Latin American ma
tions, for "a direct armed attack
by United States forces against
our country"
The efforts of President Ken
nedy to achieve a common front
among United States political
leaders were cited by Mr.. Dorticos
as proof that direct intervention
was being planned. Mr.. Kennedy
has talked with former President
Eisenhower, former Vice President
Nixon, former President Hoover,
Gen. Douglas Macarthur and
other Republicans in an apparent
effort to muster support for a
firm United States stand on for
eign policy. And Vice President
johnson had a session with for
mer President Truman in Inde-
pendence, Mo-, last week, return
Evening star., 1961-04-30
Other Factors

For the United States there was
little consolation in the develop
ments in Algeria, save of course
the fact that the rebels had
failed. President Kennedy is
slated to visit Paris late in May
for important talks with Gen. de
Gaulle, whose International posi-
tion has been imme enSely
strengthened by his triumph on
Algeria. But there were other fac
tors less gratifying to the ad-
ministration.
CuriouSly, Washington was
being identified in responsible
French publications with two
courses in the Algerian revolt.
Even more curiously, the United
States in some journals was being
identified with both. They were
these:
l. The United States, on order of
President Kennedy, and through
a personal visit of Ambassador
James c. Gavin to the Elysee Pal
ace Saturday night, offered the
use of American troops to repeI
any rebel assault (Americans
shooting at Frenchmen, was the
reaction, a situation repellant GER
tainly to President de Gaulle).
2. The Central Intelligence
Agency Of the United States
anxious that the Algerian Front
for National Liberation (FIIN
should not succeed in it's struggle
for Algerian independence because
communism" would take over.
had organized, encouraged, and
financed the revolt of the generals,
Evening star., 1961-04-30
General Strike

Most of metropolitan France
quickly rallied to the Presidents
defense. Organized labor pro-
claimed one-hour general strike
Monday that made it plain to the
world, and to the rightist rebels,
where the sympathieS of the rank
and-file lay in the Algerian issue.
Political parties of all shades
except the extreme right rallied
around-the Cross of Lorraine. The
Navy, an unknown factor previ-
ouSly, never wavered in its fealty
to the Republic.
Gen. de Gaulle, acting under
Article 16 of the constitution of
the Fifth Republic which he him
self had inspired, declared a state
of emergency and assumed vir-
tually dictatorial powers. He i'm
mediately ordered a blockade of
Algeria and suspension of all
financial affairs and of the mails;
he pledged "all means" at. the
Republics command to crush the
rebellion.
Here, indeed, was the man of
purpose who had refused, in 1910,
to accept the humiliation Of
France at the hands of Hitler's
Wehrmacht. The odds, now as
then, appeared impossible. Most
of the French armed forces, more
than 100000 men, were in Algeria,
where they have been trying with
indifferent success to subdue a
nationalist rebellion for almost
seven years. The balance of the
French military, not more than
another 100000, were of dubious
loyalty in the sense that their
leaders, in many cases, were gen.
erals who had been relieved in
Algeria because of rebellious
ton6anoiac
Evening star., 1961-04-30
Republican Aid

In the last 10 days, beginning
with his meeting with former Vice
President Nixon at the White
House on April 20, Mr.. Kennedy
has found the G. o. P. spokesman
ready to lend him their support.
Here is what some of them said
later when questioned by reporters
as to their attitude toward the
Presidents stand on Cuba:
GEN. EISENHOWER am
all in favor of the United States
supporting the man who has to
carry the responsibility for our
foreign affairs"
GOV. ROCKEFELLER-"Those
were not Cuban jets which shot
down troops last week. They were
Communist MICS. 1 think the
security of the American people
at home also is seriously chal-
lenged. ! think it is time for all
Americans to stand behind the
President in whatever action is
necessary to defend freedom"
SENATOR GOLDWATER-"As
Of this morning, this country is
in greater danger than it has ever
been. We can overnight become a
second-rate world power. We can
within a very few years come
under a foreign philosophy. Our
mistake is not being tough"
FORMER VICE PRESIDENT
NIXON-Cuba is obviously a very
grave crisis" and II viii not criti-
cize" (because) there is nothing
more irresponsible than for some
one outside the Government to
pop off,"
Both Mr.. Nixon and Senator
Goldwater said they would back
Mr.. Kennedy even to the extent
of sending American forces into
action against Castro, if necessary.
There were, however, at least
one Republican and one Demo-
crat who could not wholly resist
the political warfare urge.
Evening star., 1961-04-30

cal of Kennedy attitudes on a va
riety of foreign policy issues.
He suggested, for example, that
the Democrats may be preparing
to accept coalition government
for Laos which would include Com
munists, that they are softening
on the issue of Red China's mem
bership in the United Nations.
This week, Mr.. Nixon is lifting
his private moratorium on anti
Democratic attacks. AS he said
a few weeks ago.,
"They (the Democrats) gave us
the business when we were in
and they were entitled to. Now
we're going to give it to them
and, believe me, I know how to do
it. too"
Evening star., 1961-04-30
Placing the Blame

State Department officials
blame the CIA and say the Joint
Chiefs of Staffs approved the op-
GRAFTON; CIA says its information
was accurate, that the failure was
military; the Pentagon denies it
approved the operation.
This has caused diSsension
within the administration and left
scars. 1t also has left the Ameri-
can people confused, but with a
decided feeling that it is time to
forget the recriminations and con-
centrate on the job ahead. This
will be dangerous and delicate.
1t. Gen. Sir John Bagot Club,
founder and former commander
Of Jordan's Arab Legion, once
cautioned that "a nation which
fears war already is dead"
The President, who has said
Continued on Page CA
Evening star., 1961-04-30
An Inquiry

The Senate Subcommittee on
Latin American affairs, anxious
to probe the details of the "in-
vasion" fiasco in Cuba, was un-
able to hear testimony last week
from Secretary of State Rusk or
from acting Secretary Chester
Bowles. Mr.. Rusk was in Ankara
for the meeting of the Central
Treaty Organization; Mr.. Bowles
pleaded vital business at hand pre-
vented his accepting an invitation
to testify.
The Cuban exileS who carried
out the tragic attempt to over
throw Castro were a diSilluSioned
and bitter people last week. They
vowed "ever-mounting force" to
rid Cuba of Castro and commu-
nism, but complained bitterly that
the CIA and the United States
military had failed to support the
invasion attempt properly, and
had held their leaders incommu-
nicado during the landings, there
by preventing essential co-ordina-
ton with anti-Castro elements in
side Cuba.
The Cuban disaster appeared
very likely to become another
U-2 incident in its effect on re-
lations between the United States
and the Soviet Union. President
Kennedy's refusal to reply direct
ly to the April % message of
Premier Khrushchev was attacked
by the Soviet press as a deliberate
personal affront. Prospects for a
rapport between the Soviet leader
and the new American President.
previously considered to be favor
able, were more than considerably
dimmed as the week ended.
Evening star., 1961-04-30
THE NATIONAL SCENE
Domestic Politics
And Foreign Crises

President Kennedy last week
stepped up his drive to obtain
Republican foreign policy sup
port in wake of the increasingly
grave world situation. He con-
ferred with former Presidents
Eisenhower and Hoover and
Gen. Macarthur.
The Soviet orbiting of the first
man in space; the bitter defeat of
Cuban freedom-fighters by Com
munist- -armed Castro forces; the
rush of victories by the Red-led
Laos rebels over the Western
supported Royal Kingdom troops.
1t was these prestige and policy
defeats of the last few weeks
which cast dark and menacing
clouds over the bright promise of
President Kennedy's New From
tier.
And it was these disturbing
events which shook our citizenry
and prompted the President to
seek with solemn vigor the pub
lie support of Republican leaders
in order to unite America for the
even more critical challenges
ahead.
Obviously politics as usual"
at this juncture would be harm
full to the best interests of the
United States. This did not nee
eSsarily mean there should be no
critical discussions Of the grave
issues confronting us. But most
observers agree that it did require
a most delicate sense of respon-
Sibility.
One of the most intriguing
questions was whether Tor when)
the Republicans, whose John Fos-
ter Dulles and Dwight D. Eisen-
hover were the subjects of Demo-
cratic attacks for alleged brink
m manShip" and "go-it-alone"
ideas, will yield to the temptation
to strike back now that the tables
have turned.
Evening star., 1961-04-30
GA Criticism

Official quarters both in Paris
and Washington have denied
that Ambassador Gavin offered
American combat forces to Gen.
de Gaulle. Respected journalists
insist that he did. AS to the CIA,
that agency has been in something
of a defensive posture since the
fiasco Of the anti-Castro Cuban
invasion" of April 17-l8. Its
works are in question, and its
methods suspect; thus it is easy
at this time to inject new charges
into the stew of the old.
But the main issue apparently
has been settled: Algeria will have
its opportunity for self -determi-
nation, and the rightist diehards
have once again been taught that,
If Algeria is French, it is not
France, and that the roots of the
Republic are in Paris. I
Evening star., 1961-04-30
UdoH Remarks

1t was noted that he was
quick to jump on a Democrat for
a statement tieing the Eisenhower
administration to the abortive
Cuban invasion" plan.
Last Sunday, Interior Secretary
Stewart L. Udall, whose outspok-
enneSS has more than once beer
a source of embarrassment to thl
New Frontier, said, in reply to
question over national televisioI
program, that the Cuban opera
ton had been conceived a year
ago by Mr.. Eisenhower and Mr..
Nixon.
"They started it and handed it
over" Mr.. Udall continued. ''Eisen-
hover directed it. Another admin
iStration carried it out"
Mr.. Nixon branded the Secre-
tary'S statement as cheap and
vicious partisanship."
Senate Minority Leader Dirksen
urged Mr.. Kennedy to discipline"
Mr.. Udall. Even Senate Democratic
Leader Mansfield agreed that the
Interior chief had spoken out of
turn. Mr.. Udall expressed his
regrets.
The episode caused Mr.. Ken
nedy to repeat his declaration
that he had accepted full respon-
Sibility for the Cuban affair. The
White House issued this statement
on Monday:
President Kennedy has stated
from the beginning that as
President he bears sole respOn-
sibility for the events of the past
days. He has stated this on all
occasions and he reStates it
now, so 1t win be understood
by all.
"The President is strongly Op-
posed to anyone within or with
out the administration attempt
ing to shift the responsibility"
The President, however, is an
accessory before the fact. At his
news conference on April 81, he
virtually invited every agency of
Government concerned to give
anonymous briefings to the press
on what happened in Cuba. He
said:
II wouldn't be surprised if those
of you who are members of the
press would be receiving a lot of
background briefings in the next
day or two by interested people or
interested agencies. wouldn't
be surprised If information is
poured into you in regard to all
of the recent activities"
The result: A multi-agency
chorus singing the tune, 1T didn't
happen on my watch"
Evening star., 1961-04-30
Nixon Speech

The former Vice President will
begin a speaking tour in Greene
vile. S. c., on Tuesday. His ad-
dress there and in cities in sew
eral other States in the following
days will be watched with great
interest because, as the G. o. P.'s
No. l leader, he will be showing
the way to his party.
Will he eschew diviSive partisan
attacks on American foreign poll
cy. despite the blunders and de-
feats there may have been?
The guessing here is that Mr..
Nixon. whose sense of patriotism
is higher than his towering de-
sire to win, will pick up only his
domestic" bat and leave the other
one in the rack.
Evening star., 1961-04-30

AS the week ended, the Paris
government was in full control
of the Algerian situation. Gen.
Challe, cashiered by direct order
Of Gen. de Gaulle, was In a Paris
prison awaiting trial for treason.
Algiers, Oran, and Constantine
were quiet. The famed 1st Foreign
Legion Parachute Regiment, its
green berets and fighting courage
tradition for a generation, was
being disbanded, it's officers in
arrest and it's rankers scattered
among other units at Sidi-bel-
Abbes. 1t was this regiments mis-
fortune to have Spearheaded the
coup Of "loS cuatros generates"
as the Spanish song had it, that
precipitated the crisis.
Evening star., 1961-04-30

and eloquent man who identifies
himself, without embarrassment,
as the symbol of the French
nation, took swift steps to neu-
tralize and defuSe the desperate
rebellion Of the radical-rightist
generals in Algeria.
Evening star., 1961-04-30

ing with Mr.. Truman's pledge Of
complete support.
St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1961-01-20
DEEP S0UL-SEARcHINGR RAISES H.
HOPES FOR END TO PREJUDICE
BY EDWARD MORGAN

CThis excepted nightly
p Morgan ABc commentator sponsored by the AFIIO
Morgan Monday through Friday
7 pm, EST
The parayzng violence of winter storm reminds Of the
violent commissions the country undergoing struggles with the
bitter conflict of racial prejudice to think this
aIel strange may
Negroes struggling against they inch forward
grasp rights rst-cass
deep
pictures which comprise the whole At
seminar on human relations at the University
Chapel HILL had the privilege Of examining Of these poign
ant portraits of private human problems
image further felt looking frag
which people trying to put to-
geher would
CULVER out of place Here
andy displayed Negro and white students % South
colleges universities attending the seminar
after city buses had been desegregaed Charlotte North
Carolina white girl who thought she believed pasonatey In equal
rights ran home from school in tears There had been one empty seat
neatly Negro and the girl could
not summon the courage to take it -.
dormItory Chapel Ill., eight students
discussing segregation Suddenly them from Georgia. cppd
and forth the bed II know
you're right" segregation wrong
reject what I've been reared to be-
saturday at one of the seminar workshops young man from
University hestany
Negro" Quietly North Carolina u Negro freshman
table agonzng seconds the hand
slowly the veins standing out his neck
he mar
Restless to break away background
last Though they were better skilled and one or two OF
Negroes classified
claim the higher Of the white carpenters
though they often did the laters jobs
This same North Carolina University student
Richmond Virginia. in his life before recently
a fell conversation with
other things poetry and literature The
the student
exctedy his travelling companions
fellows" he shouted, a cultured
fragments nnmerabe the Negro exchange
Germany students could in
rights privileges other
the Naz World War but which he and his
dark-sSinned fellows had to abroad to taste.
of understanding has only been begun Such seminars
rights the University of North Carolina
held the Deep South
there
little against rising
St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1961-01-20
Data M Chatter
BY DARCY DEMILLE

HOLLYWOOD HARLEM suite in the Towers of
away Sammy
May
Ddalnow that Sammy Cooke makes almost much
writing singing them Incidentally
daughter has been named Tracy
Did anow hand the singers who drink
alcoholic matter
where their audiences are making away with the stuff"
when you constantly that
Quotes of the week:
article a national
worlds
world" expected dolls
but mentioned several ofentmes the
Hedda Hopper Cowes Higgins
Sibohan McKenna, Pele Mesta
mentioned
ten Domngn Boyer Montana Philip
burg the Shah of Iran, Harry Belafonte
This Is what said concerning Mr.. Beafonte-
Faye Emerson: animal magnetism"
Jnx Falkenburg Hes just thrilling speaks
trbution to all people"
Joan Fontaine He's
angel Just to listen and watch him a
Jean Kerr author Of Watching
Beafonte reminds the definition
know nothing could be added nothing away"
Surprisingly enough the only Hollywood
twenty list Charles
What about all the
Brando Kennedy
also made the list E"
almost certain the premier "a
Chicago Now THAT figures story written by Chi
has Chicago locale
In the Chicago