Kennedy Again To Meet Advisers

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

Kennedy Again To Meet Advisers

(N.Z Hress Association— copyngnti

WASHINGTON, May 5. President Kennedy today summoned the National Security Council to the White House for its sixth meeting in a fortnight, amid United States anxiety over the situation in South-east Asia.

He planned a press conference soon afterwards that could reveal the outcome of the almost unprecedented series of talks by his highest advisory body. An atmosphere of secrecy surrounded some of the earlier meetings, with the White House refusing even to reveal the names of the military, intelligence and foreign affairs experts who attended Mr Kennedy altered the time of his press conference today so that it would follow the council meeting at the White House in the morning. The President was expected to discuss Laos and the prospects for peace there and South Vietnam, a country which the United States promised yesterday would get increased military aid to help fight Communist guerrillas. Mr Kennedy will go straight from his press conference for a final round of talks with President Bourguiba, of Tunisia, who continued his State visit today. The two leaders met at the White House yesterday and. according to American officials, expressed mutual concern for a favourable solution to the Algerian problem. President Bourguiba indicated to reporters that United States aid to Tunisia would be discussed at today's conference. A joint communique will be issued later. American newspapers warned today that Laos was in increasing danger of moving into the’Communist Bloc. The “Washington Post” said in an editorial: “The Pathet Lao, holding much of Laos, is in a position to demand a strong if not dominant voice in any neutral government that may be organised, and a spread of the Communist hold mar be inevitable. "The hope here lies in the restraining influence that may be exercised bv the neutral countries of Asia The Communists may be able to frustrate the operations of the

three-nation International Control Commission by denying it accesu to critical areas as they did previously, but too blatant an effort could repel the neutrals. “Mr Nehru, for one, has been very helpful in trying to arrange a cease-fire and promote conditions for a genuinely neutral government, and Ind.a is In a position to insist on objectivity in the International Control Commission. "Neither India nor Burma nor Cambodia can relish the thought of a Communist Laos which would adversely affect their own security. Quite the opposite. “The possibility of affronting these countries may exercise at least some check on the Communists at the 14nation political conference, which will have the advantage of spreading the responsibility. In this respect, paradoxically, the neutrals could be in the role of protecting the interests of the Allies,” it said. The "New York Times" said the chances were not very good that the Communist domination of Laos could be avoided. In an editorial today the newspaper said: “The prospect that the tentative ceasefire that has been reached in Laos will develop into a solid general truce creates a new situation in which political considerations should take clear precedence over the military struggle. "Every effort, in carrying out future policy In Laos, should be made to enlist Asian participation in coping with the problem of Laos and strengthening South-east Asia, morally as well as physically, against further encroachments of Communist imperialism. "A genuine Laotian ceasefire makes possible a fresh United States approach The chances are not particularly good that the Communist domination of Laos can be avoided, but with the best possible United States effort some measure of containment of communism in Laos may be possible," it said.