OUTGOING MESSAGE
CHANNELS
0 0 0 b 0
NO
DATE: N
SUBJECT: LAOS SOUVANNA OFF TO FRANCEKAY REPORTEDLY TO
BE RELEASED
REF : FBISUG, UNCL
TBIS 3fl,5 AUG, UNCL
UGUST4
PRIME MINISTER SOUVANNA PHOUMA LEFT VIENTIANE EARLY TODAY
FOR SEVERAL MONTHS CONVALESCENCE IN FRANCE. HE IS TRAVELLING
PECIAL MEDICALLY-EflUIPPED AND STAFFED CARAVELLE
AIRCRAFT PROVIDED BY THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT. CONTRARY TO AN
EARLIER ANNOUNCED IIIBIIITINERARYi THE AIRCRAFT MADE ITS FIRST
REST STOP IN CALCUTTA RATHER THAN BANGKOK. V
ON THE HOMEFRONT, MEANWHILE, THE PATHET LAO HAVE STATED date.AUGUST
OMG:FOP PELEASE
UNIT:
CXT:
I > J>
BY OTHERHE ISSUING OFFICE li PROHIBIT!D
mmi 0 0 0 0 o
otTo
SOUKCF REF.
PUBLICLY THAT US CIVILIAN CONTRACT PILOT EMMET KAY UILL BE AMONG THE FIRST CROUP OF PRISONERS-OF-MAR TO BE RELEASED ON ACCORDING TO PRESS REPORTS, THE ANNOUNCEMENT WAS MADE IN VIENTIANE YESTERDAY BY THE DEPUTY CHIEF OF THE LAO COMMUNIST CONTINGENT ON THE COALITION GOVERNMENT'S JOINT CENTRAL COMMISSION TO IMPLEMENT THE AGREEMENT. HE REPORTEDLY TERMED KAY'SHUMANITARIAN AND GOODWILL
LIKE THE PATHET LAO INITIATIVE ON PRISONER EXCHANGES ITSELFi THE REPORTED PLAN FOR KAY'S EARLY RELEASE COMESURPRISE. THE COMMUNISTS HAD CONSISTENTLY ARGUED THAT THEY DID NOT CONSIDERRISONER-OF-UAR BECAUSE HIS CAPTURE LAST MAY OCCURRED AFTER THE CEASE-FIRE AGREEMENT WAS SIGNED- MOREOVER* THERE WERE INDICATIONS THAT THE PATHET LAO MIGHT TRY TO LINK
HIS EVENTUAL RELEASE TO POLITICAL CONCESSIONS BY WASHINGTON-
IMPDET.
{SPECIAL DISTRIBUTION:
NIO MR- CHRISTISON}
DATE:
MS:
UHH:
tXT:
SI OTNIRTHI ISSUING C'FICE IS MMMfTtt E
CL 6Y:
Original document.
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