LAOS COMMISSION MEETS GOVERNMENT

Press, Volume C, Issue 29509, 10 May 1961, Page 15

LAOS COMMISSION MEETS GOVERNMENT

Call For Cease-fire Meeting Soon (NJ!. Press Assn.—Copyright) VIENTIANE, May 9. The International Control Commission on Laos today met Royal Laotian Government leaders and asked for a meeting of the cease-fire delegations at Hin Heap as soon as possible. The request was immediately transmitted to the proCommunist Pathet Lao headquarters, the Associated Press reported. Hin Heup, 55 miles north of Vientiane, is the site of cease-fire meetings between Royal Government negotiators and representatives of the Pathet Lao and the neutralist former Prime Minister, Prince Souvanna Phouma.

The Indian chairman of the three-nation Commission for Laos, Mr Samarendra Sen, conferred with the Prime Minister, Prince Boun Oum, and the Deputy Prime Minister, General Phoumi Nosavan, for 75 minutes. Representatives of Poland and Canada accompanied Mr Sen to the conference in Prince Boun Oum’s palatial residence. Prince Boun Oum outlined the Royal Government's position on a cease-fire, and said he was ready to meet leaders of the other side to discuss a solution to political problems, a spokesman reported The spokesman said Mr Sen told Prince Boun Oum and General Phoumi that the first task of the commission, which arrived yesterday, was to certify the cease-fire and then supervise it. Government and rebel representatives have held three meetings at Hin Heup since a cease-fire was declared last Wednesday, but have failed to reach agreement on the site for talks. The Government wants them in Hin Heup, while rebels say they should be held at Na Mone village, 35 miles north of Hin Heup. General Phoumi flew to Luang Prabang today to discuss with King Savang Vatthana a delegation to the Geneva conference on May 12, authoritative Western sources, quoted by Reuter, said today The sources said that although the King had expressed opposition to the conference, it was "quite possible” that a Government delegation would attend now that delegations to represent the Pathet Lao and Prince Souvanna Phouma had been named. Hanoi Radio, monitored in Vientiane today, claimed that

Mr Phoumi Vongoichit, thought to be second in command of the Pathet Lao. will lead the rebel delegation to Geneva. Prince Souvanna Phouma's delegation will be led by Mr Quinim Pholsena, a former Information Minister who followed the Prince into exile last year.