§ 64. Mr. Brockwayasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if, as co-chairman of the Geneva Conference, he will make a further statement on the situation in Laos.
§ Mr. P. ThomasHer Majesty's Government have been endeavouring, in co-operation with other Governments concerned, to promote the effective re-establishment of the Government of National Union in Laos which would include representatives of all three political parties under the leadership of Prince Souvanna Phouma. An important step towards this end was taken on 21st April, when the Laotian leaders who had visited the King of Laos at Luang Prabang announced the King's ruling that the Government of National Union was the only constitutional Government and was still in existence with Prince Souvanna Phouma as Prime Minister. Unfortunately the Revolutionary Committee of Right Wing army officers,16W whose coup d'etat on 19th April caused the present crisis, do not yet seem prepared to co-operate fully in implementing the decision taken at the meeting between the King and political leaders. Her Majesty's Government earnestly hope that the Revolutionary Committee will speedily adapt their views to those of other Laotian leaders and to the general concensus of international opinion that a tripartite Coalition Government under Prince Souvanna Phouma offers the best solution to the problems of Laos in conformity with the spirit of the 1962 Geneva Agreement. The situation in Vientiane and elsewhere in Laos has remained quiet. There has so far been no resumption of fighting and no threat to the safety of British subjects.