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GV Laos Embassy (2 shots)
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CU Embassy plaque
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3.
SV Souvanna Phouma interviewed
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TRANSCRIPTS



SEQ. 3: REPORTER: "Day by day, the world follows the events in Vietnam. Cambodia too is in the public eye. But one hears less of Laos. Your Highness, can you tell us a few words of the situation in your country?"



PRINCE SOUVANNA PHOUMA: "Before I speak of Laos, I would first like to say a few words about the events in Cambodia. You know that the events in Cambodia have put the North Vietnamese and the Viet Cong in a difficult situation. On the other hand, the supply routes that once existed across Cambodia through the Port of Sihanoukville have been cut. But, since you wish me to speak about Laos, I can tell you that a few weeks ago I was approached by the Pathet Lao who sent someone--a special envoy--to arrange an eventual meeting between the plenipotentiary representative of Prince Souphanouvong and myself. Let us hope that in the context of the world situation--in which people everywhere are now trying to extinguish the fires--we particularly hope that in the Near East we shall soon by able to find a solution to the problem of the whole of Indochina, and specifically where it concerns the problems of Laos."



REPORTER: "Thank you, Your Highness."




Initials LD/TB/BB/0119 LD/TB/BB/0120



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: The Prime Minister of the Coalition Government of Laos, Prince Souvanna Phouma, who has been in France on a private visit, today (Monday) spoke about the general situation in Indo-china and the possibility of a meeting between himself and his half-brother Prince Souphanouvong, leader of the pro-Communist Pathet Lao.

Only recently it was announced in Laos that Prince Souvanna Phouma had been approached by a Pathet Laos representative with whom he discussed a three-stage plan which could later lead to full-scale discussions between the two Laotian groups. At the Laos embassy in Paris he gave an exclusive interview on the subject: