Laotian Defence Leader On U.S. Visit

Press, Volume C, Issue 29554, 1 July 1961, Page 11

Laotian Defence Leader On U.S. Visit

f N Z.P.A .•Reuter—Copyright) WASHINGTON, June 29. General Phoumi Nosovan, the Laotian Defence Minister, said today that his point of view on Laos was close to that of the United States State Department. The General, who is also Deputy Prime Minister in the pro-American Government of Prince Boun Oum, arrived in Washington from Geneva last night to discuss the future of the troubled South-east Asian Kingdom.

General Nosovan. military leader of the embattled Royal Laotian Government. ' had a breakfast conference with the United States Secretary of State <Mr Dean Rusk). The French-speaking General told reporters that he; had reviewed with the Stater

strong Communist guerrilla lems of Laos, and their points of view were "not very distant." He described the talks as still in the study stage No decisions were taken. General Nosovan left the I State Department for puncheon and a series of eon. fferences with United States

military leaders at the De-, fence Department. He said they would discuss “the military problem.” He said it was possible! that he would meet President Kennedy tomorrow. Geneva Conference General Nosovan came to Washington on his way home ! from the conference ini Geneva which has been dis-' cussing for weeks the establishment of a peaceful neutral and independent The United States Invited him and Prince Souvanna Phouma. leader of the neutralist faction in Laos, to Washington for talks on the future of the strategic little nation after the three princes of Laos agreed in Zurich last week to form a “national unity” government. General Nosovan came to Washington as deputy of Prince Boun Oum, one of the signatories of the declare-' Ition. while Prince Souvanna 1 1 Phouma said he could not I came at this time. i The third Laotian faction

leader. Prince Souphanouvong, who heads the proCommunist Pathet Lao move, ment, was not invited. United States officials made no immediate comment on the talks today with Genera! Nosovan They were arranged amid reporu in Geneva and Washington that the United States was anxious about the general aims of the proposed coalition government, which the three princes have declared would reject the protection of any military alliance—a move apparently aimed at the South-east Asia Treaty Organisation. Liner Towed.—The Spanish liner Begona (10.139 tons) with 800 passengers aboard is in distress off Venezuela and is being towed to Curacao the harbour master at Curacao reported. The propeller fell off on Wednesday while i the vessel was steaming from I the Canary Islands to Cura cao in the Dutch Antilles 75 ■ miles off the north coast of I Venezuela.