GENEVA TALKS DELAYED

Press, Volume C, Issue 29513, 13 May 1961, Page 11

GENEVA TALKS DELAYED

Report From Laos Awaited

(N .Z.P.A .-Reuter—Copyright)

GENEVA, May 12.

Plans for the 14-nation conference to negotiate a peace for strife-torn Laos were held up today while statesmen from East and West awaited news that the cease-fire had taken effect. The conference, due to begin at 4 p.m. (G.M.T.), seemed certain to be postponed, said the Associated Press. Reuters said a message, expected hourly, from the International Control Commission for Laos would determine whether the conference opened today.

A British spokesman reported that a member of the International Control Commission had arrived at Bangkok from Vientiane, the Laotian capital, with a message for the British and Soviet Foreign Ministers, the Earl of Home and Mr Gromyko, who convened the conference. The two Ministers are due to meet in Geneva this morning to decide whether the conference can open on time. Authoritative sources said that the United States delegation had made it clear that there must be some reasonable assurance that a ceasefire was effective in Laos before it could take part tn the negotiations. One big question still to be decided is who will represent the Kingdom of Laos at the negotiating table in the Palace of Nations, which was also the scene of the 1954 conference which ended the Indo-China War and charted the destiny of the States of Vietnam. Cambodia and Laos. Laos was early this morning still without a national government of unity, and. if this situation persists, the conference may decide to ask the various Laotian factions to attend as observers pending the creation of a single government. At present only representatives of the Left-wing Pathet Lao and of Prince Souvanna Phouma, the neutralist leader who is recognised as Prime Minister by the Communist side, have arrived in Geneva The West, however, recognises the Right-wing Government of Prince Boun Oum. A key figure due from New Delhi today is India’s Defence Minister, Mr V. K. Krishna Menon, who will lead his country’s delegation to the conference. The British United Press reported that even if the cease-fire verification arrived in time. Western officials said that today’s session would probably consist only of a short opening meeting, with the main talks being adjourned until Monday In Kuala Lumpur, the Malayan Prime Minister (Tunku Abdul Rahman) said Malaya would agree to join in the Laos peace talks in Geneva provided the warring factions observe the cease fire, the Associated Press reported. In Vientiane, Reuter said. King Savang Vatthana of Laos yesterday welcomed the International Control Commission, “whose neutralist impartiality we never doubted.” King Savang Vatthana. speaking at the opening of a new session of the Laotian

National Assembly, showed no sign of conciliation in his attitude to Prince Souvanna Phouma The Souvanna Government, the King declared, had been installed by leaders of the Kong Lae coup last August. but its authority had steadily diminished until the Prince himself had been

forced “to abandon all his responsibilities and take refuge abroad.” Members of the commission today accompanied the six-mdn Laotian military delegation on a flight to Ban Namone for fresh ceasefire talks with the Pathet Lao insurgents. Efforts to formalise a cease-fire agreement again ended in deadlock yesterday, a Government military spokesman said. He said Pathet Lao troops were violating the cease-fire. The cease-fire talks yesterday were held in a deserted schoolhouse in the village of Ban Namone, about 87 miles north of Vientiane. The talks lasted more than one hour and ended when the Pathet Lao delegation refused to accept the Government’s compromise offer to sign a formal cease-fire agreement in the rebel-held village of Ban Namone, and hold political talks in the Government village of Ban Phon Hong. The spokesman said three companies of Vietminh were operating near the Banna Nin village on the bank of the Namilik River. 33 miles north of Vientiane. He said other rebel forces had opened fire on Government troops at Hin Heup village, where earlier cease-fire talks were held.