Laos Threatened
The Viet-Minh incursion into Laos, though it seems to have been made in some strength, has not as yet led to any major engagement with French Union forces. Viet-Minh strategy has however been—or anyhow appeared—good enough to cause their opponents to withdraw in several sectors; and the garrison town of Sam Neua, 140 miles west of Hanoi, has been evacuated by its defenders, whose numbers are presumably exaggerated by reports which say that they consisted of two divisions. The recent campaigns in the Thai territory showed how easy it was for the rebels to dislodge, after exerting comparatively light pressure on them, quite large but isolated French garrisons; but when the French stood and fought, as at Na-Sam, on ground of their own choosing, the Viet-Minh had the worst of it and their offensive operations petered out. This pattern of events may be duplicated in Laos, where neither side's intentions are as yet clear. The Laotian and French Governments have both appealed to the free world to witness this violation of national territory, and Mr. Malcolm MacDonald has justly observed that it shows what small comfort to free Asia a Communist peace offensive can bring. Laos is not a member of the United Nations and if any appeal to that body were intended it would have to be made by France. But there is no desire in Paris to see the conflict in Indo-China enlarged into the likeness of the Korean war. The Laotian Prime Minister's broadcast was addressed, however, to the United Nations as well. It is an awkward situation for France in all respects.
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