NEW INDOCHINA PARLEY URGED

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP72-00337R000300010010-4
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 2, 2002
• Sequence Number: 10
• Publication Date: March 14, 1970
• Content Type: NSPR

WAS RQGse 2002/01/ 2T.EIA-FAD 77^ RO'9b300010010-4 PAGE
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New Indochina Parley Urged
Sen. Robert C. Byrd, (D-W.
Va.) called yesterday for re-
convening the 1954 Geneva
conference to deal with the ov-
erlapping crises in Laos, Vet-
nam and Cambodia.
It is "sheer folly," said Byrd,
"to think we could settle the
current hostilities in Laos
without mentioning Vietnam."
Similarly, he noted, the spill-
over of the Vietnamese war.
into Cambodia shows the in-
ter-relationship of tensions
throughout what was formerly
French Indochina.
The Nixon administration
has. made a "commendable po-
litical gesture" in trying to re-
open discussions ? on Laos
through the 1962 Geneva ac-
cord on Laos, said Byrd, but
the focus is too narrow.
The earlier, 1954, conference
ended the French Indochinese
war in Vietnam, Laos and
Cambodia. Byrd told the Sen-
ate that "We in the Western
world have long labored under
the mistaken belief that the
problems of Southeast Asia
can be attacked by Laotian,
Vietnamese or Cambodian so-
lutions."
Seri. J. W. Fulbright (D-
Ark.), who is challenging ad-,
ministration policy in Laos,
told newsmen he is now con-
vinced that CIA operations
there are a result of long-
standing U.S. policy estab-
lished by the National Secu-
rity Council.
Fulbright spoke to reporters
after the Senate Foreign Rela-
tions Committee, which he
heads, heard testimony behind
United Press International
CIA Director Richard Helms (left) is greeted by Sen. J. W.Fulbright.
in paramilitary operations.
But the decision to use the
CIA in that covert capacity in
Laos, he said, was not made
by the CIA itself.
U.S. policies in Laos were
challenged yesterday by Sen.
Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.),
chairman of the Judiciary
closed doors from Richard Subcommittee on Refugees,
Helms, director of the Central from the standpoint of their
State William P. Rogers, Ken-
nedy said that over the past
few months, "Reports indicate
the number of refugees in
Laos has escalated to at least
one-quarter of the country's
population."
In a long questionnaire to
Rogers, Kennedy asked a de-
tailed series of questions
Intelligence Agency. Fulbright impact on the civilian popula- J about the costs, concepts and
said he continues to be dis- tion. ,.,,.operation of U.S. policy in
Curbed by the use of the CIA In a letter to Secretary ofaos which affect civilians.
Approved For Release 2002/01/22 : CIA-RDP72-00337R000300010010-4