Undercover Armies - CIA FOIA - Central Intelligence Agency

C05303949
EVERYBODY'S PAWG
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Siho met Methven's reproach for this blatant fraud with a jaunty question,
"What is your year of birth?" The startled Methven gave it to him, and Siho
erased the number of Pathet Lao votes-a three-digit figure, at most-and
replaced it with a more generous 1,927. Methven assumed that Siho's fraudulent
count was taking place with Phoumi's acquiescence; at best, the general
had clearly done nothing to ensure the integrity of the electoral process. 29 0
The Department of State worried that the vote-rigging would invalidate the
election in the international arena, but DCI Allen Dulles was inclined to treat
it more as a youthful prank. The end result was a new National Assembly
entirely without Pathet Lao representation, a desirable outcome certainly, but
a better omen had it demoristrably represented voter preferences. 3 °D
In concert with the British, French, and Australians, the US Mission in
Vientiane plunged into maneuvers designed to keep the CDNI from what it
saw as a potentially destructive bid by the military to dominate the new government.
The noncontroversial Tiao Somsanith became prime minister,
Phoumi Nosavan settled for the defense minister's portfolio, and the summer
began in relative tranquility. 0 31
Ambassador Smith left in May. His replacement, the genteel, judicious
Winthrop Brown,
evert e ess, e two quic y ispose 0 any resr ue 0 1
ee mg c t e ind by their predecessors and established a relationship of
mutual trust.32D
_Under new management and in a more cooperative atmospherej
began to expand its political organizing efforts to reach ethnic minority groups
traditionally despised by the dominant Lao.I
IStuart Methven
later recalled that, although nominally sponsored by the CDNI, the effort was
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28 State Telegram 1921 to Vientiane, 26 April 1960, FRUS 1958-1960, 751; Stuart Methven,
interview by the author, McLean, VA, 26 November 1996 (hereafter cited as Methven interview).
Methven wasI Fase officer who provided advice and support to CDNI leaders.D
29 Methven interview. Methven recalled that] Icontinued to support CDNI organizing
efforts during the summer, and progress extended beyond provincial capitals into at least some
district towns. This provoked several instances of Pathet Lao harassment, but the fate of the
effort may have been presaged by a rally in the late spring at which the crowd was to symbolize
its call to "burn out corruption" by burning posters bearing that slogan. A sudden, unseasonably
early monsoon shower dampened the crowd and got the posters wet enough to prevent their
being set afire.1I
'30 State Te1egra1nr921 to Vientiane, 26 April 1960, and Editorial Note, FRUS 1958-1960, 51-52.
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31 Vientiane Embassy Tregrjm 2850, 7 May 1960, FRUS 1958-/960, 762-65 and passimD
32 Author's recollection.
SEC /T/fMR
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