CURRENT SITUATION IN LAOS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T00429A001300050005-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 15, 2004
• Sequence Number: 5
• Publication Date: October 9, 1963
• Content Type: MEMO

Approved For Release 2004/06/24: CIA- 13~7
1. An uneasy calm has prevailed in Laos since
the brief outbreak of shooting in the capital on
September 9th. This outbreak resulted from what
seems to have been a last minute effort on the part
of the Pathet Lao to prevent the departure of Prime
Minister Souvanna Phouma on his planned trip to
the United Nations and various European capitals.
As a result of timely diplomatic intervention by
the US Ambassador and his western colleagues in
Vientiane a precarious stability was restored to the
Lao political scene and Souvanna Phouma left on his
trip. He is presently in Paris and is expected to
visit London, Moscow and New Delhi before returning
to Vientiane at the end of the month. In the mean-
time the Pathet Lao leadership continues to abstain
from particiaption in the coalition government and
remains at its Headquarters near the Plaine des
Jarreso General Phoumi, acting Prime Minister, is
in charge during Souvanna Phouma's absence and has
kept matters under reasonable control.
2. Beneath this uneasy surface calm there are
numerous indications that the Pathet Lao and their
North Vietnamese and Chinese Communist supporters
are preparing for a resumption of military pressures
against key neutralist positions, especially in the
Plaine des Jarres, The rainy season during which
operations are greatly hampered is now ending. Re-
ports have been received of a troop buildup in-
cluding an increase in North Vietnamese forces
with the Pathet Lao troops in the Plaine des Jarres
area in violation of the 1962 Geneva accords. The
same appears to be true in central Laos where
truck convoys from North Vietnam have increased in
size and frequency recently following the reopening
of the roads leading into this area from Vietnamese
25X1
territory.
25X1 25X1
3. A significant secondary item on the picture
is the fact that diplomatic initiatives by US Em-
bassy, by the British' Embassy and by the ICC have
failed to obtain any information on the fate of the
Approved For Release 2004/06/24: CIA-RDP79T00429AO01300050005-6
 Approved For Release 2004/06/24: CIA-RDP79T00429AO01300050005-6
civilian crew of an American C-46 which was shot down
in south central Laos on 5 September while flying a
supply mission for the Vientiane Go,ernmento Five
members of the six man crew are believed to survive9 two of
them Americans9 but efforts to obtain more details on
their situation and guarantees of their safety from
the Pathet Lao leaders have thus far failed,
Approved For Release 2004/06/24: CIA-RDP79T00429AO01300050005-6