Laos: A Kind of Peace

More in relief than hope, 14 nations at Geneva last week wearily signed sheaves of agreements that assured—at least on paper—the neutrality of Laos under a left-right-center coalition government. As middle horse of the shaky troika, neutralist Premier-Prince Souvanna Phouma was away early. Rotund and placid Souvanna flew into Washington National Airport, pumped Secretary of State Dean Rusk's hand, and announced exactly what he wanted: money.

As a last-ditch weapon to make the quarreling factions form a government, the U.S. had cut off its regular $3,000,000 monthly subsidy to Laos, which is...

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