CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN - LAOS

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06541065
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: March 16, 2022
• Document Release Date: August 5, 2016
• Case Number: F-2014-02699
• Publication Date: March 16, 1961

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16 March 1961
Copy No. C 76
CENTRAL
INTELLIGENCE
BULLETIN
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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN
16 March 1961
DAILY BRIEF
Laos: The failure of the 14-15 March talks between ;3
Souvanna Phouma and a delegation of the Vientiane regime
makes it clear that an early political solution of the Laotian
crisis is unlikely. Souvanna's insistence on a 14-nation con-
ference as a prerequisite to any settlement for Laos is in fr-s; 2, 3 6�- 6 -
sharp contrast to the flexibility that he evidenced in explor-
ing solutions with General Phoumi last week, and is almost kl)
certainly conditioned by the uniformly negative reaction of
the bloc to the communique he issued with Phoumi.
Indicating that the Communists foresee the possibility
of a long struggle in Laos, Peiping on 14 March broadcast
a Pathet Lao order of the day calling on Laotians to prepare
for a "protracted war of resistance!'
(Backup, Page 1)
4
lammarskjold told an American official on 14 March that
he is thinking of sending Dayal back to the Congo around the
first of April. However, he thought that he might install three)
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frican assistants in Leopoldville before Dayal's return and
that these assistants would perform most of the UN repre-
sentative's duties.
74'
France-Algeria: The French Government announced yes- �e,t
terday it is ready to begin official political negotiations with --1)
the Algerian rebels. The meeting of leaders of the rebel prolf S ;4,3
visional Algerian government, which began in Tunis on 14 y/Ja(-1,70
March and will probably continue through this week, report-
edly is assessing the results of secret preliminary contacts
with the French. Both the French and the rebels have attempted
to keep secret the content of these talks, held in Geneva, but
reports indicate that some progress was made on the status of
the French minority and arrangements for a transitional gov-
ernment. The problems of implementing a tacit cease-fire
agreement, which Paris appears willing to accept, and deter-
mining sovereignty over the Sahara are likely to be especially
difficult points during negotiations. (CONFIDENTIAL) (Backup,
Page 5)
Union of South Africa: F.9uth Africa's decision on 15 March
not to seek admittance to the Commonwealth as a republic, and
thus in effect to withdraw from that organization following se-
vere condemnation of Pretoria's racial policies, will probably
have little immediate effect on the Union's domestic affairs.
The English-speaking minority--some forty percent of South
Africa's whites--have been politically handcuffed in recent years
and are not likely to provoke significant disorders. An eventual
loss of the five-percent tariff preference would not affect more
than about eight percent of South Africa's total trade. However,
Pretoria's action is another major step in the Union's virtual
withdrawal from the outside world. Its impact, moreover, may
be greater in international African and Asian circles, where the
concept of the Commonwealth as a multiracial club will be
strengthened. Prime Minister Welensky of the Rhodesiap.3
16 Mar 61 DAILY BRIEF
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Situation in the Congo
Elammarskjold apparently feels that Dayal's return to the
Congo is necessitated by the "question of Indian prestige";
ultimately, however, he hopes to have an African at the head
of the operation, with another African and an Asian as depu-
ties. He has stated that Makki Abbas, his interim represent-
ative in Leopoldville, is popular with the Congolese--a view
which was confirmed by Congolese Foreign Minister Bomboko
in Leopoldville. However, Abbas is to return to his post as
executive secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa in
a few week871
With the exception of Joseph Ileo, whose job as prime min-
ister in the Leopoldville regime apparently was abolished, the
participants at the Tananarive conference reportedly are well
satisfied with the "Confederation of Central African States"
proposed in the conference's final resolution. The Congolese
apparently have decided to wait until the confederation's con-
stituent states have been formed before determining its struc-
ture. So far four such states, in addition to the eight proposed
at the conference, have been proclaimed. Three of the twelve
are in Leopoldville Province, and Kasai and Katanga contain
two each. Another state reportedly has been formed from
parts of Leopoldville, Equateur, and Kasai provinces. In ad-
dition, an Orientale "government-in-exile" and the remainder
of Equateur have joined the confederation as separate entities.
This process of fragmentation is likely to continue. Although
this trend is derived from the tribalism which has made the
larger political groupings unrealistic, the resulting states al-
most certainly will be highly unstable.
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Taieb Sahbani, secretary general of the Tunisian foreign
seer riat, left Tunis on 13 March for Brussels, where he is
to be Hammarskjold's representative in talks with the Belgian
Government.
the timing of his mission is unfortunate, since Belgium is
e midst of an election campaign and cannot be expected to
take new initiatives before the formation of a new government7
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