U.S. Asks Poland For Laos Support

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30120, 2 May 1963, Page 15

U.S. Asks Poland For Laos Support

(NJ). Press Association—Copyright) WASHINGTON, April 30. i The United States has urged Poland to co-operate with Canada and India in restoring peace in Laos and supporting the neutralist Government there, the Associated Press reported today.

The three nations form the International Control Commission, which is charged with trying to preserve Laotian neutrality under a 1962 EastWest agreement in which the United States and the Soviet Union both joined. The Under-Secretary of State ,Mr George Ball, conferred yesterday with the Polish Ambassador. Mr Edward Drozniak. emphasising the United States Government's interest in maintaining Laotian neutrality. Observation Post Mr Ball is understood to have told Mr Drozniak «lso that the United States strongly favours establishment of a commission observation post in the area of the Plain of Jars where the Communist Pathet Lao and neutralist forces of General Kong Lae have clashed repeatedly during the last month. The State Department press officer, Mr Lincoln White, reported in response to questions at a press conference that Mr Ball met with Mr Drozniak to “set forth our position on Laos including what we think is incumbent upon the International Control Commission to do under the Geneva accords.” Members of the International Control Commission of India, Poland, and Canada sat in on the talks today. The commission said it had decided to maintain an inspection team on the Plain of Jars on a continuous basis to check any further fignting. But it was not known whether Prince Souphanouvong would permit them in-

side Pathet Lao-con trolled territory. In the pest the proCommunist leader said flatly they could not go there and they were farced to operate from neutralist-held areas. It was reported in Vientiane that the Laotian Prime Minister (Prince Souvanna Phoumai and leaders of the Pathet Lao had agreed “in principle” to set up a civil and military mixed commission to study ways to end the current tensions between the two groups. Cease-fire Effective

Prince Souvanna said the cease-fire between General Kong Lae's neutralists and the opposing Pathet Lao and neutralist dissidents remained effective, and there has been no firing for several days on the Plain of Jara Prince Souvanna said he had seen General Kong Lae at the Moungphan emergency airfield near the General’s headquarters and told him of his agreement with the Pathet Lao leaders. General Kong Lae said he would discuss this with hie officers and give Prince Souvanna a reply tomorrow. If General Kong Lae is agreeable the neutralist Ministers and generals would go to Khangkhay on Thursday for first discussions.