THE MICHIGAN DAILY

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U.s. Chai
In Laos
Allies Doubt
Communist
4ggression
State Department
Calls Situation Grave

rges of
Meet Iw

Intervention
ith Skepticism


WASHINGTON (J)-The United
States stood fast yesterday on its
charges of continuing Soviet and
other Communist interference in
Laos despite a swelling chorus of
skepticsm, even among allies.
State department press officer
Joseph Reap said the situation in
Laos remains grave.
"Active Communist support is
continuing with increasing vigor,'
he said, adding that the state
department "has received no in-
formation which would cause us to
retract anything we have said."
Skeptical Reports
The statement was made in the
knowledge that reports from
Bangkok declared that some
United States diplomats in Asia,
as well as some members of the
Southeast Asia Treaty Organiza-
tion, doubted United States char-
ges that substantial numbers of
outside Communist personnel are
taking part in the Lao civil war.
Both the Lao situation and the
break in diplomatic relations with
Cuba were due for an airing Fri-
day before the Senate Foreign'
Relations Committee.
Secretary of State Christian A.
Herter was called to testify at a
closed door session, along with
two of his top aides, assistant
secretaries J. Graham Parsons
for Far Eastern affairs and
Thomas C. Mann in charge of
Latin American affairs.
Neutralist Pressure
The pressure from neutralist
countries for a peaceable politi-
cal settlement of the Laos fight-
ing continued to mount here.
Burma's Ambassador U On Sein
conferred with Parsons for almost
an hour on the Lao situation. The
meeting came at a time when
Chinese Communist Premier Chou
En-Lai was visiting in Burma.
On Sein said the Burma govern-
ment believes that revival of the
International Control Commission
would "very much ease the situa-
tion in Laos and make a contri-
bution to a peaceful solution."
Laotian Watchdog
The Commission, composed of
India, Canada and Poland, served
as a watchdog in Laos after the
1954 Geneva peace conference on
Indo-China.
India, supported by Britain and,
France, has strongly urged that
the Commission be called back at
once.
While the United States has
eased some of its original opposi-
tion, it was not yet clear that
Washington is ready to use the
Commision unless it is clearly
understood that the Pro-American
government of Premier Boun Oum
is recognized by all as the legally
constituted government.
rI

DEFENSE:
Plan Bases
Promotions
On Abilities
WASHINGTON (P)--A Defense
Department committee yesterday
proposed basing officer promotions
more on ability and less on length
of service.
The aim: to get rid of dead wood
and push ahead the more promis-
ing officers in the Army, Navy, Air
Force and Marines.
The recommendations, drafted
by a special eight-man committee,
have been circulated among the
services. The group hopes to for-
ward its 'proposals to congress by
early summer.
The plan would bring about
greater uniformity in the promo-
tion policies of the four branches
cf the armed forces.
Among other things, it would
cut the number of Army and Air
Force generals, re-create a one-
star rank in the Navy, increase
the number of lieutenant-colonels,
colonels, Navy commanders and
Navy captains.
Throughout United State his-
tory, selection for military promo-
tion has been based strictly on
seniority. The only departures
have been in wartime and in
selecting top peacetime command-
ers.
This gave rise to the saying that
an officer was certain of promo-
tion, provided he lived long enough
and stayed out of trouble.
Under the seniority system, any
officer passed over twice for pro-
motion is automatically out of
uniform, unless the top command
permits him to stay on-and this
doesn't happen often.

DEMONSTRATIONS=-Moslems demonstrated in Algiers for self-determination last month. A large
Moslem vote is expected to result in a decision for self-determination in the balloting that starts
today, although Algeria's European settlers will probably oppose it.
Algerians To Determine Own Future
(Continued from Page 1)
his wish in the countryside, where rebel slogans in demonstrations al-
after -each day's voting and will the Algerians often work closely most every night-troops took up
not be counted until Sunday. with the French settlers. But in positions around vital installations
the cities, Moslems are showing and government buildings. Au-
There is no doubt that most of increasing signs they will abstain. thorities were fearful of an inci-
the European settlers will vote One factor for a yes turnout is dent that could set off bloody
no. They fear self-determination an army order to get out the vote. demonstrations. .
will lead to independence, and Gen. Jean Crepin, French com- The city's walls were like an ab-
their rights will be swept away mander in Algeria, in his in- stract painting. Slogans were
by the Algerian majority. Some of structions said a no vote would scribbled insulting de Gaulle and
their organizations have issued favor the nationalist rebels and the army covered them up with
orders to try to block the referen- "certainly thedCommunist world, whitewash.
dum. which is behind the rebellion." -
Moslem Boycott The directive to the army has
De Gaulle pins his hope for a prompted a protest from one vote
big yes 'vote in Algeria on the control ocmmission in Oran, which
Moslems, despite a boycott on the sail it could not fulfill its impartial
referendum called by the Algerian task under the circumstances,
nationalist rebels. In Algiers--where Moslems in
The French president may get the Casbah have been shouting
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