Word: vong
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...languid, landlocked little Indo-Chinese kingdom of Laos, a man's rank is told by the color of his umbrella.. Old King Sisavang Vong, who reigns in the royal capital of Luang Prabang, rates a white umbrella. Lesser noble fry rate umbrellas of varying hues and sizes. Viceroys, for instance, are entitled to yellow...
When the Japanese set up the independent kingdom of Laos on the eve of their departure in 1945, an autocratic and petulant prince named Phetsarath decided he was tired of his viceregal yellow umbrella, deposed his uncle King Sisavang Vong, and named himself head of a short-lived Laotian republic. For a brief time nobody had any umbrellas...
...Half Brothers. But when the French returned for their short and unhappy postwar role, they chased Prince Phetsarath into luxurious exile in Bangkok, restored King Sisavang Vong to the throne, complete with white umbrella. Another nephew. Prince Souvanna Phouma, later took over as Premier, has since been doing his best to set up a stable, non-Communist government. His task has been difficult, first because everything is difficult in Laos, second because the country's Communist-led Pathet Lao forces (which occupy two northeastern provinces) are bossed by his own half brother Prince Souphanouvong...
Pathet Lao is Prince Souphanouvong, a half-brother of the Premier, Prince Souvanna Phouma, and because both brothers have sworn fidelity to aging, gout-crippled King Sisavang Vong, the Laotians have been inclined to dismiss Pathet Lao as une affaire de famille. Since August the moonfaced, Paris-educated princes have been going about the capital of Vientiane arm in arm, sipping champagne together, and promising an early settlement of their "family affair." Says trusting Prince Souvanna Phouma: "My brother has never been a Communist, only a misled patriot...
...week's end Souvanna Phouma and Souphanou Vong relaxed at a family picnic with 50 of their relatives, and talked happily about the peaceful future. Souphanou Vong seemed such a reassuring fellow. Of course, if in the friendly atmosphere he should want to be less of a Communist, he could always remember that his wife and six of their seven children are now in Red-held Hanoi. The seventh is studying in Moscow...