LAOS: PATHET LAO TROOPS CONTINUE TO OCCUPY U.S. COMPOUND AS FIVE FOREIGN COUNTRIES RENEW AGREEMENT TO SUPPORT LAOTIAN CURRENCY.

Record ID: 344866

  • Title: LAOS: PATHET LAO TROOPS CONTINUE TO OCCUPY U.S. COMPOUND AS FIVE FOREIGN COUNTRIES RENEW AGREEMENT TO SUPPORT LAOTIAN CURRENCY.
  • Date: 19th July 1975
  • Summary: 1. GV PAN Supplies being loaded onto Red Cross truck outside U.S. warehouse. 0.08 2. SCU Pathet Lao soldier guarding entrance. 0.18 3. SCU U.S. Woman and Laotian woman checking inventory list. 0.22 4. CU Medical supplies loaded onto truck (2 shots) 0.40 5. GV PAN USIS Library. 0.50 6. SV INT People reading newspapers etc. (4 shots) 1.09 7. SV INT F.E.C.F delegates seated. 1.18 8. CU British official signing economic agreement. 1.23 9. CU Australian delegate signing. 1.28 10. SV U.S. Delegate signing. 1.34 11. SCU Japanese delegate signing. 1.41 Initials VS 15.05 VS 15.20 Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 3rd August 1975 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: VIETIANE, LAOS
  • Country: Laos
  • Reuters ID: LVA14VPVD9IJPOKGSJJ5G5DM61YT
  • Story Text: Pathot Lao troops continue to occupy a warehouse compound in Vientiane operated by the United States Information Service (USIS), despite Laotian Foreign Ministry orders to evacuate.

    The five pro-Communist Pathet Lao soldiers said they had been asked to stay on by student demonstrators. Students and Pathet Lao soldiers are also occupying the U.S. Embassy's general services office and a residential compound.

    They have refused to hand the property back to the Embassy, maintaining that it is part of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which was forced to close down its operations in Laos last month.

    The occupation of the warehouse has forced USIS to suspend publication of its daily news bulletin in Lao and English this week. All printing materials are stored there. Medical supplies within the compound, however, were allowed to be transported out.

    The U.S. Consulate and the Information Service will operate twice a week. There are about 30 U.S nationals still remaining in Vientiane in the wake of increasing Pathet Lao influence.

    Meanwhile, five foreign countries along with Laos signed an agreement on Tuesday (15 July) to renew their contributions to the Exchange Operation Fund (FEOF) to support the Laotian currency, the Kip.

    Britain, Australia, France and Japan agreed to contribute more than 6.5 million U.S. dollars (3 million pounds sterling). The United States also signed the agreement, but only as a ratification of the five million dollars (2.27 million pounds sterling) it has already contributed this year.

    A U.S. Embassy spokesman said that any further U.S. contributions would depend on the U.S. Congress and the development of relations between the two countries.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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