Evening star., 1961-03-24
KENNEDY
KENNEDY
Kremlin Response
Awoited by Allies
Continued From First Page

Continued From First Page
government If hopes for a
negotiated settlement collapse |
in the next few days.
Tightrope Of Words
Secretary Of State Rusk is
flying to Bangkok, Thailand,
today for a crucial meeting of |
SEATO foreign ministers at
which allied plans for forceful
action are expected to be de-
veloped.
Mr.. Kennedy said mo time
limit" has been given the
Russians for agreeing to a |
cease-fire. But he emphasized
that the situation becomes
increasingly serious as the days
60 by"
He seemed something like a
man walking a tightrope in
trying to awaken the country
to the danger of the war threat
in Laos without using words
that might sound like an ulti-
matum in Moscow and increase
the very threat he was trying to
head off.
His replies to questions seek
ing to draw him out on possible
specific action stressed. instead,
hopes that a peaceful solution
could be found through nego-
tiation at the conference table
rather than resorting to the
battlefield.
He made it clear that he re-
CARDS what Russia does now
about Laos as a major test of
Soviet good intentions in re-
gard to easing cold war ten
Sions.
He told one questioner that
he hopes it will be possible to
make progress toward leSSening
tensions with relations with the
SovietS.
But obviously Laos is a crit
ical area"
II think the kind of response
that we get to our efforts for
peace in this area" he added,
will tell US something about
what kind Of a future our world
is going to have, and we will
have to wait and see what that
response will be we will
know q good deal more in the
coming days"
Record Attendance
The President had built up
unusual advance interest in his
press conference by delaying 1t
from 4 pm. Wednesday until
the same time yesterday and
then rescheduling it for live
television at 6 pm. He spoke
directly to 426 newsmen-a rec
ord attendance at a presidential
press conference-in the State
Department Auditorium.
Mr.. Kennedy opened the con-
ference by reading q carefully
prepared statement. He pointed
to three big maps, fixed to a.
triangular revolving stand, to
illustrate the large areas of
Laos overrun by the Commu-
nists since last August in 81
greatly intensified effort t0I
take over" the country whossl
neutrality the big powers had
pledged to preserve.
He started out by saying he
thinks it important for all
Americans to understand this
difficult and potentially dan-
gerouS problem"
He said Soviet planes have
been conspicuous in q large
scale airlift giving increasing
support to the local Communist
forces in Laos.
Outlining the American posi-
ton, the President said:
!. I'VE strongly and unre-
servedly support the goal of 81
neutral and independent Laos
a. Threatening no one, and
free from any domination
2. IF there Is to be o peace
full solution, there must be a.
cessation Of the present armed
attacks by externally supported
Communists" Unless those at
tacks do stop, the necessary
response" will be carefully con-
Sidered here and in the SEATOI
conference beginning Monday
in Bangkok.
Special Responsibility
Noting that all members Of
SEATO have undertaken spe-
cial treaty responsibilities to-
wards an aggression in Laos. I"
he added forcefully that no
one should doubt our resolu-
tionS on this point"
8. Earnestly favoring con-
structive negotiation to restore
Laos to genuine neutrality, the
United States strongly supports
the present British proposal for
a prompt end to hostilities and
prompt negotiation. "
The lead In seeking agree
ment has been taken by Britain,
which formally presented its
United States-approved pro-
posal to the Soviet government
yesterday.
Under this proposal a three
nation international control
commission would supervise the
cease-fire. while a long range
decision on Laos would be left
to a larger international con-
ference, including Russia, Red
China, the Western powers and
other nations. India, Canada
and Poland make up the con-
troll commission, first organized
seven years ago and now DOR
mant.
Diplomats reported the Soviet
Foreign Office reaction to the
British proposal was not dis.