Chinese Attack On U.S. Laos Policy

Press, Volume C, Issue 29516, 18 May 1961, Page 15

Chinese Attack On U.S. Laos Policy

(N.Z.P.A. -Reuter— Copyright)

GENEVA, May 17.

The United States Secretary of State (Mr Rusk) is expected to reply to the attack by the Chinese Communist Foreign Minister (Marshal Chen Yi) when the conference on Laos enters its second day today.

Marshal Chen Yi last night accused the United States of being responsible for the crisis in Laos and demanded the liquidation of the South-east Asia Treaty Organisation.

Mr Rusk is due to speak at a morning session in the Palace of Nations. The Soviet Foreign Minister (Mr Gromyko) may have his first policy speech at a session in the afternoon.

All three speakers in the conference so far—Prince Norodom Sihanouk, of Cambodia, the British Foreign Secretary (Lord Home) and Marshal Chen Yi—have called for a neutral Laos. Mr Rusk and Mr Gromyko are expected to do the same today. The conference opened yesterday in the absence of the delegates from Thailand, South Vietnam, and the rightwing Laotian Government. The Thai and South Vietnamese delegates were yesterday reported to be on their way from Bangkok and Saigon. The Right-wing Laotians refuse to attend the conference until they receive instructions from their Government in Vientiane. They have objected to the seating of the pro-Communist Pathet Lao and the neutralist Souvanna Phouma group on an equal footing with them. Lord Home, addressing the opening session of the con-

ference, listed four objectives to settle the problem. He recommended these steps:—

A declaration by the Laotians themselves to follow a policy of neutrality and non-alignment with the world’s Power groupings. A declaration by the members of the conference to respect such a declaration of neutrality. Establishment by the conference of international machinery to control the delivery of arms into Laos.

Some agreed method of channelling economic aid to the troubled country. The closed business session at which Lord Home spoke came immediately after the opening meeting, at which Prince Sihanouk spoke out against any partitioning of Laos and urged that it be unified under an “Austrian style’’ neutrality. “Since diplomacy always likes to base itself on precedents,” he said, “Why should we not make an effort to apply to Laos the same

excellent results obtained tn Austria?”

This proposal Is close to United States policy. The Great Powers signed a treaty with Austria in 1955. They guaranteed its military neutrality and withdrew their troops. But the United States, France, Britain and Russia did not commit Austria to any political or economic neutrality.

“We Buddhists," Prince Sihanouk told the delegations, "judge it infinitely evil to tear apart a little people and offer the fragments to the appetite of the giants.” A "Communist personality” had pteposed Austrian-ctyle neutrality, and another from the West had agreed.

Prince Sihanouk, attacking the idea of partition, said some people were seeking to apply it ‘"in despair." He hoped Laotians would form a coalition of national union and settle their representation at the conference.