Word: phoumi
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...that could not be won. The Red Pathet Lao forces, aided by Communist North Vietnamese, controlled half of Laos, and the Royal Laotian Army seemed unable to nrevent the Reds from overrunning the country (which so far has received $450 million in U.S. aid). The U.S. decided to abandon Phoumi's anti-Communist regime, which appeared doomed, and planned to replace it with a neutralist government. But Phoumi strenuously opposed the idea; a neutralist coalition, he feared, would soon fall to all-out Red control-and rob him of his own power...
...Phoumi last week could point to a few hopeful military factors. The tough, anti-Red Meo tribesmen control the important Xiengkhouang-Vang Vieng road and force the Reds to supply several bases...
Also on the road: anti-Red Strongman General Phoumi Nosavan and his protege, Premier Boun Oum, who had gone to Bangkok seeking economic aid to bolster their challenge to U.S. policy in Laos...
Desperate Search. Meanwhile, the U.S. vainly pushes its blueprint for a neutralist coalition. Ever since February, Washington has refused to deposit Phoumi's $3,000,000 monthly aid check to force his agreement. Last week President Kennedy refused a new plea for financial support from the royal government. But even withholding economic aid from Laos has failed to overcome Phoumi's opposition...
...week's end Boun Oum and Phoumi finally yielded to the pressure, announced that they would go to Geneva. At the same time, the U.S. discreetly deposited the $4,000,000 in the Laotian account. But there was no reason to hope that the Geneva meeting would be successful. Phoumi still is holding out for the vital defense and interior ministries that Souvanna demands as his share of the prepared coalition government. And Boun Oum will not be in Geneva long. He must return to Laos by the end of this month to attend the cremation of his mother...