Report To Kennedy On Laos Talks

Press, Volume C, Issue 29634, 3 October 1961, Page 15

Report To Kennedy On Laos Talks

(NJZJ».A .-Reuter— Copyright)

NEW YORK, October 2. The United States roving Ambassador, Mr A v e r e 11 Harriman, arrived from Geneva last night to report to President Kennedy on the 14nation conference on Laos.

Mr Harriman planned to spend about a week in Washington discussing the conference and his recent trip to South-east Asia with Mr Kennedy and the Secretary of State (Mr Dean Rusk), United Press International reported. Before he left Geneva, he noted that the conference had made “some progress” and said there were “indications that the Soviets wish to come to an agreement" that could end the long-smouldering Laotian crisis. But he said: “There are still some hard nuts to crack.” Among them was authority for the international control commission. The three Laotian Princes

—the “neutralist,” Souvanna Phourna, the pro-Communtat, Pathet Lao, Souphanouvong, and the pro-Western, Boun Oum—will meet this week to negotiate a coalition government.

“This is better news,” Mr Harriman said. He said the Princes, scheduled to meet at the village of Ban Hin Heup, would discuss "unfinished business" from their Zurich meeting last June. This would include the critical question of integration of military forces into a unified Laotian Army and the “disbanding of excess forces,” Mr Harriman said.