Russia Suggests Conference To Settle Laos Crisis

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29001, 16 September 1959, Page 15

Russia Suggests Conference To Settle Laos Crisis

(Rec. 11.20 p.m.) MOSCOW, September 15. The Soviet Government last night suggested an international conference to settle the Laotian question and bring the situation in the area back to normal.

A statement, summarised by the Soviet news agency, Tass, said the coiiference should be called by the countries which attended the 1954 Geneva conference on IndoChina. These were Britain, the United States, Russia, France, China, and the four Indo-Chinese States. The Soviet statement accused the Western Powers of undermining the agreements on the International Supervisory and Control Commission in Laos. “In the Soviet Government’s opinion, the International Supervisory and Control Commission in Laos will have to report to this conference on the results of the work it has carried out, and on its recommendations regarding steps to be taken towards normalising the situation in Laos, the Tass summary of the statement said. “It is the Soviet Governments conviction that the tension which has arisen in Laos can and must be removed only on the basis and within the framework of the Geneva agreement, which provide the foundation for peace and security in Indo-China.” The Soviet Government said the actions of the Western Powers meant the undermining of agreements on the International Supervisory and Control Commission in Laos, and a heavy blow. at the Geneva agreements on Laos and at the whole fabric of the Geneva agreements on Indo-China. “The Soviet Government places it on record that responsibility for this lies fairly and squarely on the Governments of the United States, Britain and France, who are sponsors of this resolution, and that it may have far-reaching consequences for peace and security in Indo-China.” it said. The Laotian Government has prepared a mass welcome for the four-national United Nations subcommittee, which is due to arrive

today. The streets of Vientiane were last night hung with placards and welcoming signs. The official news bulletin, "Lao Presse,” said yesterday: “We are members of the United Nations We only want to live in peace with our neighbours. We observe the United Nations Charter.” The bulletin said the sub-com-mittee of 15 representatives from Tunisia, Japan, Italy, and Argentina would certainly find proofs of North Vietnamese interference in Laotian affairs. It said: “Laos will not go under Communist domination. Laos will remain a free independent country living in peace with its neighbours, whether they wish it or not.”

Mr Habib Bourguiba, son of the Tunisian President, and deputy-chairman of the subcommittee, said in Amsterdam yesterday that its job was merely to record facts.

Muong Son, near Sam Neua, ended on Sunday and Communist troops began pulling out towards the north. General Sananikone believed that two rebel battalions had been involved. He said two other Communist battalions were still threatening Ansteua. south-east of Sam Neua, but in a passive manner. The rebels began to build up their forces there 10 days ago, and the Laotian Government expected a major attack, which never came. “Generally speaking,” he said, “the military situation is very good.”

He could not say whether his teams would actually visit the areas of fighting in Laos. “This depends on what the Government of Laos wants us to do,” he said. “We are not going to judge, but to record the facts as we find them, and then report them to the Security Council.” "Nobody in our group has ever been to Laos and nobody has any special expert knowledge on that country,” he said. He could not say how long the mission would last.

Latest news of the fighting from military, sources is that the fort of Muongsong in Sam Neua Province has been relieved after being under strong rebel pressure since being retaken by the Laotian Army last week. The Army had relieved two major besieged towns, and had moved into a counter-attack to trap withdrawing forces, the Chief of Staff (General Ounae Sananikone) announced in Vientiane. He said the four-day attack on