MISTAKE IN 1959

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29828, 22 May 1962, Page 13

MISTAKE IN 1959

Humphrey’s Views (N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) WASHINGTON, May 20 The United States made a policy mistake. in 1959-60 when it tried to make a military ally out of Laos “where neutralism was the predominant factor at the time,” the United States Democratic whip, Senator Hubert Humphrey, said today. As a result, he said: “We’ve been trying to extricate ourselves from that mistake and in the process of doing it we’ve had to suffer some reversals " As for the present, he said there were indications that' prospects for a peaceful Laotian settlement had improved. Senator Humphrey emphasised that he fully endorsed President Kennedy's decision to send United States troops to Thailand to help it protect its border against any threat from the Communists in neighbouring Laos He appeared on a radio-tele-vision programme. United Press International reported Senator Humphrey, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations committee, said he did not feel that Laos was hopelessly lo®t but added it was in serious trouble He said he thought a neutral Laos was possible Speaking of the past, he said: “Our early military commitment to Laos, by trying to make an ally out of a relatively weak country, a very backward country and essentially a peaceful country where neutralism was the predominant force at the time, was a policy mistake ”