0 - The Black Vault

TI-
THE BDM CORPOhATION
'If support
. to seek the withdrawal of US military support personnel ana
advisers from RVN
0 to treat the insurgency in RVN as fundamencil :y a Vietnamese
a
matter
to increase pressure on the GVN to make the necessary reforms and
make the RVNAF fight harder
* to put the lid on bureaucratic and political pressures for
increased US involvement in Vietnam,
a. The Geneva Conference on Laos (1961-62)
In the fall of 1961 and thiough the spring of 1962 tte US,
its goal of a free and independent LaoS frustrated by Soviet-backed North
Vietnamese sutversion. had decided to silvage as much as possible by settling
for neutralization,
After lengthy and complex diplomatic maneuvering,
an agreement on the critical Laotian issue was reachea. On July 23,
1962, the 14-nation declaration and protocol 31/ establishing the neutrality
of Laos was signed formally, ending the IE-month Geneva Confcrence on
Lacs. In the Declaration cf Neutrality the North Vietnamese, together with
all other participants, gave their word that.
* they would not introduce foreign troops or military personnel
into Laos
* they would riot use the territory as a military base
0 they would not interfere in the internal affairs of Laos
a
all foreign irregular and regular troops wiould be withdrawn from
Laos in the shortest time possible. 32/
1) Outcomps of the Laotian Neutrality Treaty
The North Vietnamese never pulled their forces from
Laos as they had promised to do.
They did not stop sending men anif war
supplies to assist the ?athet Lao. More significant for the RVN, tht Lt;RV
continued using the jungle trail5 and roads of eastern Laos ana the
panhandle to infiltrate fighting forces and war materiel into the South in
of its aggression there. The North Vietnamese also did not permit
the coalition government of Laos or the International Contro, Commission
('CC) to exercise their functions in the communist-held areas of Laos. The
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