Evening star., 1962-05-10
LAOS

Continued From rage Al
ing to break the rebel siege Of
the provincial capital might
have provoked the assault last
week end. @
His stiff note to Prince Soup
hanouvong was seen as an ef-
fort to demonstrate that he Is
q man Of his word. It was also
seen as putting his prestige at
stake as prospective leader Of
the proposed coalition govern
ment. 4.... ... .-s
Prince Souvanna has the sup
port of the United States, the
Soviet Union and other big
powers at the 14-nation Geneva
conference on Laos. But Prince
Boun Oum and Gen. Phoumi
have baked at joining q gov
lernment under Prince Sou
wanna, contending he Is not
strong enough to prevent the
lpro-communistS from leading
Laos into the Red orbit.
A refusal by Prince Sou
phanouvong to carry out Prince
Souvanna's order would bolster
the right-wing objection to
Prince SouYanna, T :. :.
Prince SouVanna's note to
Prince Souphanouvong lined
him up with. United States and
British efforts to get the rebel
forces to Withdraw behind the
cease-fire line and to get poll
tical talks started again.
President Kennedy told. his
news conference In Washing
ton yesterday that the rebel
advances were "a clear breach
/ Of the cease-fire." But he said
such incidents can be expected
to continue as long as the
political talks drag on. income
clusively.
In an obvious reference to
the Vientianei regimes reluc-
tarce to resume the talks, Mr..
Kennedy said that "the longer
there is not an agreement on
the government, the longer
some groups stand out from
these kind Of conversations.
then the more hazardous the
situation becomes"
Hazardous Course
Mr.. Kennedy said the United
States effort tog get q neutral
government IN Laos "is q very
hazardous course, but introduc-
ing American forces, which
was the other-let's not think
there's some great third course
that also is q hazardous
course" 2
United States and British
diplomats, meanwhile. urged
the Soviet Union, Co chairman
with Britain Of the Geneva
conference on Laos, to use its
influence to get the rebels to
pull back. .s
In Washington, Acting Sec
retary Of State George w. Ball
called In Soviet Ambassador
Anatoly Dobrynin and told him
the Omitted States was seriously
concerned about Developments
IN Laos. Mr.. Dobrynin said he
would relay the message to
Moscow. -,
Brit0n Sees Phoumi 7
In the Soviet capital. British
Ambassador Sir Frank Roberts
discussed the situation with
Foreign Secretary Andrei Gro
myko. The British Foreign
Office in London said mo
agreement was reached on any
Specific point" but there may
be further discussions"
Malcolm MacD Donald, British
o-chairman of the Geneva
conference, conferred in Wen
tiane with Gen. Phoumi and
the general told newsrnen Mr..
MacD Donald had agreed to "try
all means" to get Prince Sou
lphanotyong to observe the
cease fire.
Mr.. Macdonald flew yester-
day to Khang Khay, the rebel
capital IN the Plaine des JarTes.
but did not see Prince Sou
phanosIv0ne The prof. Con1lnu-
mist prince was reported farther
north In Sam Neua Province
with an eve infection.
Gen. Phouni said Mr.. Mac
Donald expressed hope his talks
with lesser pathet Lao and
|neutrAlist leaders IN Fhang
IlKhay would bring good
results ts.-...ar 80 u.
l~~e-s - ~ 80 s5ssssa -