TALKS LIKELY TO START

Press, Volume C, Issue 29514, 16 May 1961, Page 15

TALKS LIKELY TO START

Compromise On Pathet Lao

(MZP. A.-Reuter—Copyright) GENEVA, May 15. The United States Secretary of State (Mr Rusk) has agreed to a compromise formula which sidesteps the stumbling block of Pathet Lao representation at the 14-nation Laos conference, sources said in Geneva today. This decision was made after consultations with President Kennedy. The compromise formula—chiefly the work of the British and Indian delegations—is believed to emphasise that the conference’s task is to discuss international aspects of the Laotian crisis, and not the country’s internal politics.

The formula was said to have recommended that those Laotian representatives who had been invited by individual Governments should attend. Conference sources said this would evade the controversy whether the proCommunist Pathet Lao should enjoy equal status with the representatives of Prince Boun Oum’s Rightwing Government and Prince Souvanna Phouma's “neutralist” Government. The United States has refused to attend the conference if the Pathet Lao group—which does not claim to be a govemtnent—sits on an equal footing with the rival Laotian Government delegat ! ons. This issue has delayed the opening of the conference since last Friday. The sources said that final arrangements were now being made in diplomatic moves and the conference should be able to open this afternoon or tomorrow. Conference circles were hoping that the Laotians might themselves settle the thorny question of their representation by setting up a coalition government. Reuter reported that political talks opened in the Laotian village of Na Mon yesterday, when both Right and Left-wing factions put forward draft agendas calling for a discussion on a coalition.- The delegates will meet again today. Later, the official Soviet news agency. Tass. reported from Hanoi that it had been agreed to discuss establishment of a coalition Government.