LAOTIAN THREAT

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30129, 13 May 1963, Page 15

LAOTIAN THREAT

Possible War (N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) NEW YORK. May 11. The United Slates appears to be preparing for a possible showdown in Laos, the Associated Press reported today from Vientiane. Well-informed sources Mid neighbouring Common let North Vietnam recently introduced flreaii tnxipe into Laos and the United States responded by providing arms and ammunition to the neutralist forces of anti-Com-munist General Kong Le and Right-wing General Phoumi Nosavan. An estimated nine battalions of North Vietnamese i troops were previously known to be stationed in eastern Laos guarding proCommunist Pathet Lao strongpoints and the Ho Cha Minh trail, the Communist supply route from North Vietnam to Communist guar- ; rillas operating in South Vietnam. I American arms were being supplied, according to informed sources in Vientiane, at the request of the Royal Laotian Government under the? Geneva accords of July, One article prohibits the introduction of arms and munitions into Laos "except such quantities of conventional armament as the Royal Government of Laos may consider neceaMwy for the national defence of Lace.” The official United States policy was still firmly committed to maintenance of the neutral coalition Government m I job as la.d down by the Geneva accords.

ta—Lwmon'a Hotel at Broadbeach. on Queensland's “Gold Coast" which cost £ A 975.000 to build in 1955, wm passed in at miction yesterday after attract- ® top bid of onlv £A27s,ooo.—Briabane, May