Evening star., 1961-02-21
US. Proposes
Neutral Group
!. To Watch Laos
sy the Associated Press

N@sS eA~et~AeeSN EANoo
The United States Is ready
to submit all future aid to the
Royal Laotian government to
the screening Of q neutral ma
.tions' watchdog commission.
This evidence of full United
States support for . genuinely
neutral Laos was made known
today by authoritative Govern
ment sources here.
They said the offer had been
transmitted to King Savang
Vathana Of Laos, the Soviet
Union and neutral nations in
Southeast Asia. The King has
called for the neutrality Of
Laos.
II the neutral government of
Laos decided to accept Commu-
mist aid, diplomatic sources
said, 1t would be expected that
such aid also would be subject
to screening by the Neutral
Nations Commission.
The United States action
was discussed by Secretary of
State RuSk in a 30-minute
meeting last night with Soviet
Ambassador Mikhail Menshi-
kov. Is
Mr.. MenShikov told news
men after the session he would
inform Moscow Of the discus
sion. E.
Mr.. Rusk gave him q trans
lation Of King SaVang's mes
sage, proclaiming that Laos
will not join in any military
alliance . and will not have
on It's territory either foreign
forces or military bases"
U. s. Ready to withdraw
American officials said the
United States would be pre-
pared to withdraw its more
than 100 military advisers now
training the Royal Army and
turn over the job to military
experts from neutral countries.
This proposal would depend
upon q ceaSe-fire in the fight
ing between leftist and govern
ment forces and q withdrawal
OF any foreign military ad-
visers or technicians now aid
ing the leftist Pathet Lao.
The United States decision
represented a considered judg-
ment by President Kennedy
and his top advisers, officials
said.
The United States has pro-
vided more than 1910 million
to keep the Laotian government
afloat since its independence
was assured by the 1854 Geneva
agreement on Indo China.
United States officials said
the new Washington position
goes further than the United
States previously ever indicated
it would go in an effort to
insure an independent and
neutral Laos.
Malaga and Burma have
indicated willingness to serve
on Q watchdog commission.
Cambodia's Prince Norodom
Sihanouk has not yet Indicated
II he would permit Camhodia
to serve as chairman. Cam
bodia adjoins Laos.
However, the proposal OIL
King Savang is close to those
Prince sihanouk himself has
made.
Other Nations Consulted
United States officials said
the United States consulted
with Cambodia, Burma and
Malaga before King Savang
issued his neutrality appeal
last week end. Britain, France
and the Asian members Of the
Southeast Asia Treaty Oreani-
zation also we're consulted on
the Kings plans.
A British diplomat here well
coined as most generous" the
American offer to have all Of
its future aid screened.
The Soviet reaction is being
watched closely.
Mr., MenShikov told newsEnen
afte This meeting with mr..
Rusk that the Soviet Union al
ways has thought Laos should
be neutral in accordance with
the 1854 Geneva agreement.
Mr.. MenShikov said no
agreements or decisions were
reached in his conversation
with Mr.. Rusk.
1T was q preliminary kind
Of talk" he said.
Earlier. the State Depart
ment called on the neutral
nations of Southeast Asia and
all other interested govern
ments including the Soviet
Uniou ito work together con-
struetiyely TO restore peace and
concord To this troubled area"
As for the United States, it
said, 1--WE shall certainly re-
spect. the wishes of the Lao
people as reflected in the
Kings declaration"