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University Daily Karsan
Monday, May 18, 1964
Laos Policy Examined By Top U.S. Officials
WASHINGTON — (UPI) — U.S. policy in Laos was being given deep soul-searching thought today by administration officials concerned about new communist attacks in the Southeast Asian troublespot.
American officials said some major decisions might have to be made soon. There was a feeling in high quarters that the latest Red attacks might be the "last straw"—that the Communists could not be permitted to keep on violating the Laotian truce.
Secretary of State Dean Rusk summoned to conferences at the State Department yesterday diplomats from a dozen countries with special interest in Laos.
Included were Russia and Britain, co-chairmen of the Laotian peacekeeping machinery; India, Canada and Poland, members of the International Control Commission (ICC) to police ceasefire violations, and members of the eight-nation Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO).
All of the diplomats were urged to use their influence to stop the latest round of fighting. Nations maintaining diplomatic relations with Red China were urged by Rusk to make representations in Peking.
The new Laotian crisis brought additional headaches to top U.S. officials already working on plans to step up economic and military aid for South Viet Nam's war against Red guerrillas.
President Johnson is expected to send a special request to Congress this week for additional funds to expand the aid program in Viet Nam. He conferred with top aides over the weekend on the proposals.
Communist-held portions of Laos have been a route through which supplies and men have been sent by the Reds to the guerrillas fighting in South Viet Nam.
Over the past two years, the Russians have appeared to U.S. diplomats to have genuinely been trying to uphold 1961 and 1962 accords to neutralize Laos. But their influence over the Laotian Communists and North Viet Nam, which is more sympathetic to Red China, is believed to be minimal.
U. S. Officials strongly doubt that Laotian Communists would have launched their latest attacks without being egged on and supported by North Viet Nam.
Just what the United States might do about these North Vietnamese activities apparently is undecided, and officials will give few clues on their thinking. They indicated there was no present idea of major U.S. military intervention.
U. S. officials said they were unable yet to assess the scope of the latest Communist attacks in Laos. They appeared to be attempts to retake territory in the area of the Plain of Jars which the Communists had held jointly with the neutralists before 1962.
The attacks also could be an attempt by the Communists to warn neutralist Premier Souvanna Phou-
Official Bulletin
Non-Summer School students may now
enroll in English Proficiency
Exam in 130 Strong
Foreign Students: You are reminded that you must have a permit to have summer employment. See the Foreign Student Advisor's Office.
Catholic Mass, 5 p.m., St. Lawrence
Chapel, 1910, Stratford Rd.
ma against making agreements with the right wing.
Varsity Band Spring Concert, 8 p.m.
Swarthout Hall.
University Lecture, 7:30 p.m., Sunflower Room, Kansas Union. "Bolsheism-A Betrayal of the idea of the Russian Intelligence."—N. P. Polotkarz-81.
Episcopal Evening Prayer, 9:30 p.m.
Dantouth.
TOMORROW
The Plain of Jars often is called "strategic," but its importance may be more symbolic than military. It is the headquarters of Souvanna Phouma's neutralist faction, and if neutralist troops are routed from this area it could be a considerable blow to his political power in the capital, Vientiane. Souvanna Phouma is the man the United States has counted on to maintain the neutralist coalition formula.
Catholic Masses, 6:45 a.m., 5 p.m. St. Lawrence Church, 1910 Stratford Rd.
Air Force Recruiting 10-3-30 p.m.
Hawk's Nest, Kansas Union, Sgt.
Eric Roehl, University of
application for Officers Training School,
Baseball, 3 p.m., Quigley Field, KU-
Missouri U.
College Faculty Meeting, 4:30 p.m., 303
College Faculty Meeting, 4:30 p.m., 303 Bailey.
U. S. officials long have been aware that if the Communists in Laos ever decided to take a major push to gobble up the whole country, they could do so unless the western powers intervened. But it is not yet evident that Communist forces have this large a design, officials here said.
Inquiry Forum, p.m. St. Lawrence
Will be in Western City, discussion tonight.
Episcopal Holy Communion, 9.30 p.m.
Danforth.
Inquirer Classes, 7:30 p.m., Canterbury House.
American officials said they had no confirmation of a report over the weekend that Communist Chinese as well as North Vietnamese troops had been seen in Laos.
U.N. 'Transient Says Goldwater
LOS ANGELES — (UPI) — Sen. Barry Goldwater said today the U.S. should reconsider its commitments to the United Nations if Red China is admitted to the world body.
He characterized the U.N. as "a transient majority of transient nations" in a speech prepared for a civic group lunch.
Goldwater faces a head-on clash with New York Gov. Nelson Rockefeller, winner of last Friday's Oregon primary, in California's biggest-in-the-nation Presidential Primary June 2.
"But should the Red Chinese now attempt, in effect, to shoot their way in—while still in open defiance of the U.N.'s own resolution condemning their aggression in Korea—then we should be forced to reconsider our continuing commitments to the U.N."
"It may well be too late to draw the line on U.N. memberships by the Communist regimes of Europe," he said.
"So long as we treat the U.N. as a sacred cow, immutable and untouchable, it will continue to fall short of its goal," he said.
Illinois Teachers Picket; 21,000 Students Stay Home
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill.—(UPI)Elementary and secondary school teachers planned to boycott classes today in a dispute over wages. More than 21,000 students will be affected.
A spokesman for local 1220 of the American Federation of Teachers said picket lines would be set up at 35 schools before the start of classes.
Union President Clyde Reynolds said the teachers are seeking salary increases from $300 to $900 a year for instructors with 30 hours college credit beyond a master's degree. He said East St. Louis teachers have not had a salary increase in four years.
School board officials and an attorney for the teachers union scheduled a meeting at City Hall in an attempt to settle the dispute. But Reynolds urged parents to keep their children home today.
Rex Carr, attorney for the teachers union, said he would be the only teachers' representative at the meeting. Carr said he would summon members of the teachers salary committee only if there was some indication of "give and take" at the meeting.
Thomas P. O'Donnell, attorney for the Board of Education, said the School Board had offered $100 more a year for attendance officers and $200 a year for all certified personnel.
"This certainly is not the end of the matter as far as teachers' raises are concerned," the Rev. William L. Lahey, school board president said. "The board has definitely made known to the teachers that this is merely a first step toward increased pay."