PEACE TALKS IN LAOS

Press, Volume C, Issue 29506, 6 May 1961, Page 11

PEACE TALKS IN LAOS

Rebel Attitude Uncertain

(ft.2 Press Association— Copynont)

VIENTIANE, May 5. A Royal Laotian Government military delegation is going north today for the most important peace talks so far in the Laotian crisis. Its reception—and what it would talk about—was uncertain, the Associated Press said. The former neutralist Prime Minister, Prince Souvanna Phouma, broadcasting through the rebel radio, issued a call for talks yesterday and the Royal Government quickly responded, saying it would send a six-man team to a point in no-man’s land about 50 miles north of Vientiane for a conference at noon.

There appeared to be at least one touchy point: Prince Souvanna Phouma said he wanted to talk over major political questions as well as military matters. The Government team's major interest is in nailing down of a cease-fire, then setting the time for a political meeting to talk over a new coalition Government and the Laos delegation to next week’s Geneva conference. Both sides agreed to an informal cease-fire two days ago. No major fighting has been reported since Wednesday. But the Laotian Defence Minister, General Phoumi Nosavan, said yesterday that there had been incidents of fighting which raised questions about the Pathet Lao rebels’ good faith. More than half a dozen wounded have been brought into Vientiane in the last two days. Reuter reported that a delegation of six senior Laotian military officers left Vientiane military airport in a bid to arrange a formal general cease-fire with the Pathet Lao forces. The delegation, headed by General Sing Rattanasamay. Inspector-General of the Laotian armed forces, took off in an American-piloted helicopter at 10.40 a.m. for the village of Hin Heup. about one mile south of a Government-proposed meeting point, the scene of earlier contacts. General Phoumi. who was present at the delegation’s departure. said no reply had yet been received from the Pathet Lao accepting the proposal for a meeting at midday today. But he expressed confidence that the mission would be successful. The general appeared to be in high spirits, laughing uproariously as members of the delegation jostled for seats inside the cramped helicopter cabin. He said it was hoped the delegation would return to Vientiane later today. Two Government troops and one civilian were injured in a gunfight 10 miles east of Vientiane early today. Reuter reported. Reports reaching Vientiane indicated that they were wounded in an ambush on a car on the road towards Paksane. It was hot known whether the ambush was carried out by Pathet Lao guerrillas or bandits. The Soviet news agency.

Tass, reported from Hanoi that the Pathet Lao was ready to send representatives to a meeting today between the Right-wing Government and the Left-wing forces. Tass quoted the Pathet Lao leader, Prince Souphanouvong, as saying: “The main task of the tripartite conference is to form a coalition government and appoint a delegation to the conference in Geneva.” Prince Souphanouvong said he believed “the problem of Laos must be settled in the first place by the Laotian people themselves and for this purpose a conference of parties Concerned must be called at once. He called on all countries concerned to do their best to see that the 14-natlon Geneva conference on Laos is held as scheduled on May 12.