For the first time, Americans were shot at from Laos as antiaircraft artillery fired by the Communist Pathet Lao damaged a U.S. Navy RF-8A Crusader that was flying a photographic reconnaissance mission. The RF-8A, flown by U.S. Navy Lieutenant Charles F. Klusmann, burned for 20 minutes in the air but Klusmann was able to return for a safe landing aboard the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63). Lt. Klussman’s plane would be shot down for Laos on a mission on June 6, and he would be captured after parachuting to safety, but would escape his captors three months later.
The U.S. Government disclosed today that unarmed United States jet planes piloted by Americans had been flying reconnaissance missions over the Plaine des Jarres, in central Laos, to gather information on Communist forces. A State Department spokesman said the missions had been undertaken at the request of the Government of Laos because of “the current inability of the International Control Commission to obtain adequate information” on recent attacks on neutralist and right‐wing forces in Laos. The commission, made up of representatives of India, Canada and Poland, is assigned to supervise the numerous truces in the fighting between pro‐Communist Pathet Lao and anti‐Communist forces in Laos.
Coupled with the disclosure of the reconnaissance flights was a report by qualified sources that the United States had provided bombs being used by the Laotian Air Force for raids against Pathet Lao and purported North Vietnamese forces. These sources indicated that the bombs were supplied some time ago at the request of the Laotian Government under the July, 1962, Geneva agreements between East and West. Under these accords Laos was to be unified and neutralized, with a government to consist of neutralist, rightist and pro‐Communist factions. The current raids were the first in which the bombs were used. The announcement of the reconnaissance flights was the first official acknowledgment since the signing of the Geneva accords that the United States was taking a military role in Laos. The disclosure came in the wake of reports from Tokyo quoting the Peking radio to the effect that Pathet Lao troops had fired on American planes over Laos. Officials in Washington did not confirm today that any planes had been fired on.
General Kong Le, the neutralist commander, regrouped his tired battalions southwest of the Plaine des Jarres today and turned to face advancing pro-Communist Pathet Lao troops. The young general established his command post near Ba Na, a forested hill position about eight miles southwest of his fallen headquarters at Muong Phanh on the western fringes of the plain. Only four battalions remained under his command of about 5,000 neutralist troops that held the Muong Phanh area when the Pathet Lao opened its offensive Saturday. The battalions are believed to have 400 to 600 men each. Clustered about the Ba Na perimeter were thousands of refugees and members of the soldiers’ families.
A neutralist communiqué broadcast by the Vientiane radio said isolated units were attempting to fight their way through the Pathet Lao lines to rejoin General Kong Le. It was said that a unit, presumably the lost Fourth Paratroop Battalion, which had held the southern anchor of the line at Phou Teneng, had succeeded in reaching Ba Na. About 15 miles to the north, where an isolated neutralist force was entrenched near the Muong Kheung airstrip, the defenders were said to have counterattacked. Helicopters and light planes of American charter companies — Air America and Birds & Son — were landing at Ting airstrip near Ba Na. Returning American pilots reported sporadic gunfire.
One Laotian officer who returned yesterday by air from Ba Na said General Kong Le’s morale remained high although it was difficult to see how he could extricate his force if the Pathet Lao pressed the attack vigorously. Encumbered by dependents and refugees, his force would face a hard, dangerous trek to Vang Vien, the neutralist base farther to the southwest on the road to Vientiane.
In Vientiane, the administrative capital, Prince Souvanna Phouma, the neutralist Premier, called an emergency meeting of his Cabinet to discuss what appeals could be made for international action to curb the Pathet Lao. One of the Premier’s aides said proposals under consideration ranged from a request that the United States post troops in Thailand on the border, as in the crisis of May, 1962, to the convening of an international conference.
Britain concentrated her diplomatic efforts today on trying to bring about “consultations” on Laos among the countries that worked out a solution for the Asian kingdom’s political problems in Geneva in 1962. Such consultations, which were requested Tuesday by Prince Souvanna Phouma, the neutralist Premier of Laos, would have the effect of shelving France’s proposal last night or a more formal 14-nation conference. Prince Souvanna Phouma suggested that representatives of the 14 countries “consult” in Vientiane, the Laotian administrative capital, where all except Burma have diplomatic missions. The 14 are Britain, the Soviet Union, the United States, France, Communist China, India, Canada, Poland, Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, North Vietnam, South Vietnam and Laos.
The UN Security Council meets to consider Cambodia’s charge that the United States directs South Vietnam raids into Cambodia. U.S. Ambassador Adlai Stevenson calls for a clear marking of the border and the stationing of some force to police the border.
Adlai E. Stevenson declared today that the United States would back the fight against Communist subversion in Southeast Asia as long as the people there “ask for our help” in preserving their independence. Mr. Stevenson’s remarks, in the Security Council, were directed especially at the Soviet Union. The Council was meeting officially on a complaint by Cambodia that the United States had directed raids into her territory from South Vietnam. However, Nikolai T. Fedorenko of the Soviet Union broadened the debate on Tuesday with a general attack on United States activities in Southeast Asia. Mr. Stevenson rejected suggestions for a new meeting of the 14-power Geneva conference that worked out agreements on neutrality for the Southeast Asian countries in 1954. He said respect for the agreements already signed was more important. France has been favoring a new meeting of the Geneva conference. Washington has opposed it on the ground that it would give an opportunity for new Communist maneuvers.
The United States Advisory Command commended a 21‐year‐old American military policeman who shot a Vietnamese terrorist in a busy Saigon street today. The terrorist, presumed to be a Communist guerrilla, threw a grenade from a bicycle at a parked station wagon in which the military policeman, Pvt. Jesse L. Fontenot of Elton, Louisiana, was sitting. Private Fontenot jumped out, waited a few seconds for the grenade to explode, then fired a single shot from his 45‐caliber pistol at the terrorist, who by that time had cycled about 30 yards away.
The terrorist, identified as a 19‐year‐old mechanic named Trần Văn Bê, was taken to a hospital, with a serious wound in the mouth and jaw. Police spokesmen said his life was not in danger. Major General Richard G. Stilwell, chief of staff of the Military Assistance Command, praised Private Fontenot’s action. In a statement, the general said “he handled the situation admirably and certainly reflected credit on himself and the Military Police Corps of the Army.”
Cuba is putting out feelers for an “arrangement” with the United States, a diplomatic source said today. Representatives of Premier Fidel Castro’s regime, the source disclosed, have lately hinted to Spanish diplomats in various capitals that a modus vivendi between Havana and Washington should be sought. The implication was that Spanish diplomacy might be instrumental in bringing about contacts for such an improvement in Cuban‐United States relations. International observers here believe that Washington will not consider negotiations with Cuba before the Presidential elections next autumn. Diplomats here suggest that the Administration emerging from the election may envisage an arrangement with Cuba if it obtains certain guarantees.
Chancellor Ludwig Erhard promised today new Government measures to maintain a stable economy in West Germany in the midst of its inflation‐wracked European neighbors. “We shall do everything necessary to get out of the inflationary trend,” the Chancellor said in a speech at an international handicraft fair in Munich. He offered no indication of what further stabilization measures he had in mind.
The Defense Minister of India, Yeshwantrao Balwantrao Chavan, warned today that another Chinese Communist border attack against his country was possible. “Our information is that the Chinese forces across our northern borders today are in larger strength than what they were in November, 1962,” Mr. Chavan said in a speech at the National Press Club. They have consolidated their positions and built new roads and airfields; they are building up logistical and other supports. Chinese intentions may, therefore, well be to launch aggression against our soil at a time that suits her, at a place she chooses.”
The White House disclosed new budget estimates today showing a drop of $700 million in spending in the current and next fiscal years. The announcement also showed a drop in estimated receipts of $400 million for the two years. The result is a drop in the deficit for the two years of $300 million. The bulk of the drop in spending, $600 million, is to take place in the next fiscal year, beginning July 1. Today’s statement said that for that year “estimated expenditures for agriculture have increased, but this rise is more than offset by reductions in the expenditure estimates for defense and a number of other programs.”
The new estimates were made public in advance of Congressional testimony by Administration financial officials next week on an increase in the ceiling on the national debt. Action on the debt limit is necessary before the current fiscal year ends on June 30. Revised estimates of spending and receipts were also made at this time last year, although they were not published by the White House. Today’s statement noted that the passage of the tax reduction legislation in late February, instead of in January as assumed originally in the budget, had shifted the timing of tax receipts and refunds. The new estimates put receipts in the current fiscal year $1.1 billion higher than the earlier estimate, and receipts in the next fiscal year $1.5 billion lower.
Leaders of the civil rights forces in the Senate confidently predicted today that they would have the votes to shut off the Southern filibuster in early June. Senator Everett McKinley Dirksen of Illinois, the Republican leader, said that the votes would be in hand by the time a petition for closure of debate was filed. But Mr. Dirksen said: “I must acknowledge the margin will be narrow.”
Senator Hubert H. Humphrey of Minnesota, the Democratic floor manager of the civil rights bill, acknowledged it would be premature to say the leaders now had the necessary votes. But he said he was “confident we will have them.” Shutting off debate requires the votes of two‐thirds of the Senators present and voting. If all 100 Senators are present, 67 votes are needed.
Senator Richard B. Russell, Democrat of Georgia, the Southern leader, who only two days ago said the civil rights leaders did not have votes for closure, apparently felt today the showdown was not long away. “Pressure is increasing daily on Senators to support the bill,” he said. “Pressure is also increasing for the gag rule. I therefore make no claim as to being able to beat the gag rule or the bill.”
Mr. Humphrey said the Republican leaders felt certain that a package of amendments proposed by Mr. Dirksen and agreed to by the Justice Department “has produced some Republican votes” for closure.
There was reason to believe that six Republican Senators, all of whom had been considered doubtful on closure, might be ready to vote for it after the three‐day Memorial Day holiday. They are Senators Len B. Jordan of Idaho, Carl T, Curtis and Roman L. Hruska of Nebraska, Karl E. Mundt of South Dakota, Peter H. Dominick of Colorado and John J. Williams of Delaware.
Mr. Humphrey also said, “On our side, I think we’ve had some help.” This could mean only two things. The first was that Senator Frank J. Lausche of Ohio had been satisfied by the Dirksen amendments and was ready to vote for closure. The second was that either Senator Howard W. Cannon or Senator Alan Bible of Nevada, or perhaps both of them, was willing to absent himself on the closure vote. When a Senator who opposes closure stays away during the vote, the number of votes necessary for a two‐thirds majority is reduced. Without elaboration, Mr. Humphrey said, “It’s always possible somebody will not be here.”
Tomorrow the Republicans will meet for the third and last time to discuss the Dirksen amendments. Mr. Dirksen said that some minor alterations might be made. Mr. Humphrey said that the amendments would probably be introduced next Monday.
In a move to halt Southern debate on the issue of jury trials in contempt cases arising from the bill, Mr. Dirksen will probably insert into the package the jury trial proposal made by himself and the Democratic leader, Mike Mansfield of Montana. That amendment would give a judge discretion to allow a jury trial in cases of criminal contempt but would limit the penalty in a nonjury trial to $300 and 30 days in jail. The Southerners have been debating the jury trial issue for nearly five weeks. The pending amendment is one by Senator George A. Smathers, Democrat of Florida, which would require a jury trial if a defendant requested it. The Smathers amendment could be disposed of by a motion to table it — that is, to kill it. This motion is not debatable.
After a motion to impose closure is passed, each Senator is allowed an hour to debate the bill and all amendments that have previously been read. Mr. Humphrey said he expected a week of debate under this rule before the final vote on the bill. To speed committee work on appropriations and other urgent bills, the leaders agreed that floor sessions tomorrow and next week would, begin at noon instead of 10 AM. There will be no Saturday session this week.
The pro‐integration forces in the Southern Baptist Convention were defeated today. After two hours of debate in the vast auditorium of Convention Hall in Atlanta, the 13,000 delegates of the nation’s largest Protestant denomination rejected a pledge to “support the laws designed to guarantee the legal rights of Negroes.” They also declined to commend the few hundred churches in the 1.4-million-member body that are integrated. Instead, the delegates adopted a substitute resolution presented on behalf of a coalition of ministers from Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. This urged earnest prayer and work for a “peaceful Christian solution” to racial problems. The substitute was similar to the conservative pronouncements on race that the convention has been adopting since 1948. The denomination is believed to be at least 99.9 percent white.
As President Johnson completed his sixth month in office today, he stood high in all the popularity polls, dominated the national political outlook, and was heavily favored to win the election next November 13. He was firmly in command of the Administration. Only half a year after the assassination of President Kennedy elevated Mr. Johnson from the Vice‐Presidency to the White House, he has a substantial record of achievement at home, and has not been heavily challenged or set back in affairs abroad. Both at home and abroad, however, the President is still confronted with the two major problems that disturbed the last year of Mr. Kennedy’s life.
In the United States, evidence is mounting that the civil rights crisis threatens not only social but political stability, and that its effects have reached into almost every state and section. Both Black and white moderates — like Mr. Johnson — seem to have only a tenuous command of the situation, and in Congress there is no resolution of the bitter Senate debate on the Kennedy‐Johnson civil rights bill.
In South Vietnam, most signs point to a deteriorating situation in the guerrilla warfare between the Việt Cộng, the Communist forces, and the Government troops with their United States advisers and support. The President asked this week for an increased United States commitment of military and economic assistance to South Vietnam, and there appears to be no immediate threat of a debacle such as the French suffered a decade ago at Điện Biên Phủ.
Almost exactly three years from the day President Kennedy first proposed a manned assault on the moon, the space program was caught today in a snarl on the House floor. Because of a confused parliamentary situation, brought on in part by the civil rights filibuster in the Senate, the House of Representatives found itself unable to appropriate funds immediately to help finance the expedition. The funds will be provided eventually, but the delay in the House reflects the changing Congressional mood about the urgency of the lunar expedition. The space agency will get its funds by appealing to the Senate. In the Senate‐House conference committee, the funds will then be included in the appropriations bill finally approved by Congress.
Mrs. Lyndon B. Johnson barnstormed deep into the wooded hills and twisting hollows of eastern Kentucky today, talking of poverty and her husband’s program to end it. She also saw signs of brighter days ahead for Appalachia. The energetic First Lady, wearing low, soft‐leather boots, nimbly climbed sheer mountain paths, forded creeks, talked crops and equipment with a Breathitt County farmer and shared a surplus‐food hot lunch with children at a one‐room school house.
The Baltimore Harbor Lighthouse, the first nuclear-powered lighthouse begins operations on Chesapeake Bay. The Baltimore Light became the world’s first, and only American lighthouse, powered by nuclear power, as a test of the SNAP-7B Strontium-90-powered 60-watt radioisotopic fuel cell generator. One year later the RTG was removed and a conventional electric generator was installed. Currently the lighthouse is solar-powered.
Manny Jimenez cracks an 8th inning grand slam for the Athletics, but Kansas City falls short, losing to the Orioles, 7-6.
Dow Jones Industrial Average: 819.80 (-0.31).
Born:
Ivan Bella, Slovak astronaut (Soyuz TM-29 / Soyuz TM-28), in Brezno, Czechoslovakia.
Tommy Albelin, Swedish National Team and NHL defenseman (Olympics, 5th, 1998; NHL Champions-New Jersey, 1995, 2003; Quebec Nordiques, New Jersey Devils, Calgary Flames), in Stockholm, Sweden.
Joey Clinkscales, NFL wide receiver (Pittsburgh Steelers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers), in Asheville, North Carolina.
Gerald Alphin, NFL wide receiver (New Orleans Saints), in Portland, Oregon.
Dan Clark, NFL linebacker (Los Angeles Rams), in Camp Zama, Japan.
Annabel Schofield, Welsh actress (Laurel Ellis-“Dallas”), in Llanelli, Wales, United Kingdom.
Carolyn Lawrence, American actress and voice actress (“SpongeBob SquarePants”), in Baltimore, Maryland.
Arthur C. Brooks, conservative American social scientist and President of the American Enterprise Institute; in Spokane, Washington.
Died:
James Franck, 81, German physicist and 1925 Nobel laureate (with Gustav Hertz for the Franck–Hertz experiment of 1914 that first measured the quantum nature of atoms.
History Diaries 