-Page Six
THE MICHIGAN DAILY
vvednesday, September ]3, 1972
Page Six THE MICHIGAN DAILY
China and Laos to
normalize relations
By MICHAEL MORROW ment in relations between Peking
Dispatch News Service and Washington, Souvanna Phou-
VIENTIANE, LAOS - The hosts ma urged the Chinese to again ex-
were gracious, the liquor good, change ambassadors. Peking sig-
and the company congenial. In nalled its interest nearly one year
many ways it was just another ago when it presented a token
embassy reception in this tran- $1,000 check to Souvanna's minis-
quil town on the edge of the In- ter of interior, asknowledging the
dochina War. Vientiane government in doing so.
The difference was that this This was followed by a flurry of*
was a Chinese Embassy reception contacts between Souvanna and
(celebrating the 45th anniversary 'the Chinese who were reported to
of the founding of the Chinese havehoffered Souvanna recognition
People's liberation army) and an in exchange for Laos' support on
honored guest was "American lac- seating China in the United Na-
key" Price Souvanna Phouma, the tions and expelling Taiwan.
present political leader in Vien- Peking must have been under-
tiane. standing for Lao officials have
A subtle but important change quietly announced recently that
on Laos' political scene in the Peking and Vientiane "will ex-
last two years has been the quiet change ambassadors soon. Vienti-
rapprochement between Peking ane has already named an am-
and Vientiane. bassador, and there is a good
China was a signer and firm chance that he will be accepted
backer of the 1962 Geneva agree- within six months.
ment neutralizing Laos, but with With China now in the UN and
the breakdown of the tripartite relations between Washington and
(Rightist, Neutralist and Leftist) Peking improving, Souvanna no
coalition, relations between Vien- longer needs to justify to Wash-
tiane and Peking had deteriorated ington courting Peking. Even such
sharply. a rabid anti-communist as U. S.
Peking was backing the Pathet Ambassador to Vientiane G. Mc-
Lao guerrillas; Souvanna Phouma Murtrie Godley was heard to say
was becoming more and more de- recently that Washington recog-
pendent on U.S. military support. nizes that Souvanna must have
Still, in the strange ways of in- friendly relations with the Chinese.
ternational relations between Vien- The Chinese, however, may have
tiane and the rest of the world- trouble explaining the improve-
in addition to the Chinese, the ment of 'relations with Souvanna
Russians, Czechs, North Vietna- Phouma to the Pathet Lao and
mese, South Vietnamese a n d North Vietnamese. The Pathet Lao
Americans all have diplomatic recognize Souvanna Phouma only
missions here - ambassadors as the head of the "Vientiane fac-
were recalled but diplomatic rela- tion". The Chinese call him "Pre-
tions were not severed. mier" and recognize his govern-
Relations between Peking and ment.
Vientiane hit bottom at the May, Whether the government of na-
1970, Canton meeting of Indochina tional union set up in the 1962
revolutionary leaders, when Pek- Geneva agreement still exists or
ing pledged unswerving solidarity a new one will have to be brought
with the Pathet Lao and other In- into being is a matter of dispute
dochina revolutionary g r o u p s. between Prince Souphanouvong,
With the beginning of a friendlier Pathet Lao leader, and Souvanna
relationship between Peking and Phouma.
Washington, the coldness between If the Pathet Lao and Vientiane
Vientiane and Peking also began get down to serious negotiations
to thaw. A little too quickly, in the Chinese may find themselves
fact. in the middle.
Souvanna Phouma has always But that may be right where the
been acutely aware of Laos' long Chinese want to be. Formerly this
northern border with China, and role was played by the Soviet Un-
his basic policy has been to try ion. That the Soviet Union may
and get along with the Chinese. assert itself in Indochina, promot-
He has also attempted to use them ing independence of Indochina
for protection from the North Viet- from Chinese influence, is a con-
namese and the Pathet Lao. tingency the Chinese undoubtedly
At the first signs of improve- consider.
Harris Vietnam poll
NEW YORK () - More than opposed a coalition government in
half of the prospective voters in- Saigon, if it were the only way to
terviewed in the-latest Louis Har- get peace the poll said.
ris poll said they supported con- And a 49-20 per cent plurality
tinued heavy American bombing of did not give credibility to the as-
North Vietnam and the mining of sertation made by Democratic vice
that country's harbors. presidential candidate Sargent
The poll reported Monday that Shriver that "the Nixon adminis-
the bombing was supported by a tration blew a real chance to
55-32 margin and that the mining achieve peace in 1968 . ."
was supported by a 64-22 per cent
margin.
And while a 76-21 per cent ma- UM BARBERS
jority said they favored "bring-
ing home all U.S. military naval and HAIRSTYLISTS
and air forces from Vietnam," a
74-11 per cent majority said they
favored the contention that "it is Shags for Men
important that South Vietnam not
fall into the control of the Com- MICHIGAN UNION
munists."
A plurality of 47-35 per cent ________________
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