Confidence Expressed In Future Of Laos

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32012, 12 June 1969, Page 5

Confidence Expressed In Future Of Laos

(N.ZP.A. Staff Correspondent) VIENTIANE, June 10. Quiet confidence in the future of Laos as an independent nation is being expressed by the Assistant Foreign Minister (Mr Khamphan Panya).

In an Interview with an N.Z.P.A. correspondent, he argued that Russia, as well as Western Powers, wanted to see a continuance of the tripartite Government established In 1962; and he pointed hopefully to the fact that North Vietnam’s Ambassador to Laos had this year paid an official call on the Prime Minister (Prince Souvanna Phouma). Until recently. North Vietnam had refused to recognise the legality of Prince Souvanna Phouma’s Government. “China’s attitude is something of a mystery,” Mr Khamphan Panya admitted. ‘But some years ago Chairman Mao Tse-tung reminded our king that China had never, in history, invaded Laos. And as recently as last December,

the Chinese Charge d’Affaires reminded the king of this fact. “My position as a Minister is a controversial one. But the Chinese Charge d’Affaires has also called officially on me.” Mr Khamphan Panya is a member of the Rightist faction in the tortuous Lao political system, and was made a Cabinet Minister in a move which changed the fouri eight-four Ministerial balance reserved for Rightists, neutralists and Pathet Lao in ' the 1962 agreements. Mr Khamphan Panya ■ agrees with most observers t that the independence of Laos in the post-Vietnam war era ' will depend almost solely on ' international agreement. Like i other Lao politicians, and • many Western diplomats, he i talks of North Vietnam’s need , for reconstruction after the i Vietnam war, and believes ' that North Vietnam will not ; press too hard on his beleaguered nation. And he has an odd point of ’ view regarding the road that Chinese engineers are at i present building in Northern ’ Laos—a road which some i Western observers regard as I sinister. > “We the road is be-

Ing constructed to bring pressure on North Vietnam, not on Laos or Burma,” said the Minister. “Perhaps, also, it is being built to oblige the United States to have talks with China about South-East Asian problems. “You must remember the implications of the policy differences between Russia and China. The Russians, at any rate, believe that a reconciliation between China and Russia is impossible. “The Chinese were very angry when North Vietnam agreed to take part in the Paris talks—they do not want ‘another Albania* on China's borders.

“So, when a settlement has been reached in Paris on the Vietnam war, maybe the Chinese will want North Vietnam to send back the Russian arms. And they will have a strategic road to give point to their demands.”

The Minister is not hopeful that the war in Laos can be ended before a settlement is reached in Vietnam; but his long-term prognosis is hopeful: “If there was no war in Vietnam, I think an agreement for peace in Laos would not be too difficult. And, with peace, we would move quickly towards economic progress." I