THE CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY OF LAOS: PART 2 [1900-1955]


1900:THE FRENCH CHOSE VIENTIANE AS THE ADMINISTRATIVE CAPITAL OF THE PROTECTORATE.
1901:[APRIL 19th]A REVOLT BY TRIBESMEN ON THE BOLOVENS PLATEAU AND LED BY SELF PROCLAIMED HOLY MAN ,BAC MY COMMENCED AGAINST THE FRENCH. THE FRENCH HAD PREVIOUSLY TRIED TO DESTROY BAC MY'S CULT FOLLOWING AND IN RETALIATION A FRENCHMAN HAD BEEN KILLED.[OCTOBER 7th]PRINCE SOUVANNA PHOUMA LATER PRIME MINISTER 1951-1954,1956-1958,1960-1970,WAS BORN IN LUANG PRABANG.
1903:[SEPTEMBER 6th]PHOUI SANANIKONE LATER PRIME MINISTER 1958-1959,WAS BORN IN VIENTIANE.
1904:[APRIL 28th]SISAVANG VONG BECAME THE LAST KING OF LUANG PRABANG FOLLOWING THE DEATH OF KHAM SOUK. MA KHAYKHAMPHITHOUNE LATER PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL PLANNING COMMITTEE WAS BORN IN SAVANNAKHET.[JULY 12th]KATAY DON SASORITH LATER PRIME MINISTER 1954-1956,WAS BORN .
1905:[AUGUST 1st]MAHA SILA VIRAVONG LATER PRE-EMINENT HISTORIAN OF THE LAO WAS BORN IN THAILAND.[NOVEMBER]FOLLOWING THE SLAUGHTER OF 41 LOVEN TRIBESPEOPLE BY THE REBEL FORCES UNDER BAC MY, THE FRENCH LAUNCHED A CAMPAIGN TO AGAIN TRY AND PACIFY THE BOLOVENS PLATEAU REGION.
1906:[JUNE 8TH]BONG SOUVANNAVONG LATER FOUNDER OF THE LEAGUE FOR PEACE AND NEUTRALITY AND A MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT DURING THE SECOND INDOCHINA WAR WAS BORN IN VIENTIANE.
1907:[AUGUST 8th]KHAMSOUK KEOLA LATER PRESIDENT OF THE PATRIOTIC NEUTRALIST FRONT WAS BORN IN LUANG PRABANG.[SEPTEMBER 23rd]OUTHONG SOUVANNAVONG LATER GOVERNMENT MINISTER FROM 1947-1954 WAS BORN IN VIENTIANE[OCTOBER]THE REVOLT ON THE BOLOVENS PLATEAU LED BY SELF APPOINTED HOLY MAN. BAC MY OSTENSIBLY CAME TO AN END WITH HIS SURRENDER TO THE FRENCH THEY AGREED TO KEEP HIM UNDER HOUSE ARREST BUT COULD NOT PERSUADE HIM TO COMPEL HIS CHIEF SUPPORTERS,KOMMADAM TO ALSO SURRENDER.[OCTOBER 12th]OUN SANANIKONE, LATER A LEADING POLITICIAN WAS BORN IN VIENTIENE.[NOVEMBER 13th]SAVANG VATTHANA LATER KING OF LAOS FROM 1959-1975,WAS BORN IN LUANG PRABANG.
1908:[MARCH]VAN NA PHOUM, A LU TRIBAL CHIEF IN NORTHERN LAOS, COMMENCED A REVOLT AGAINST THE FRENCH OCCUPATION IN PHUONG SALY PROVINCE TO JULY 1910.[MAY 2ND]THE FIRST LAO LEGAL CODE WAS PROMULGATED BY THE FRENCH AUTHORITIES.SITHON KOMMADAM LATER VICE PRESIDENT OF THE PATRIOTIC FRONT WAS BORN IN ATTOPEU.
1909:[JANUARY 9TH]NHOUY ADHAY LATER FOREIGN MINISTER AND DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER WAS BORN AT KHONG.[APRIL 6TH]PHOUMI VONGVICHIT LATER ACTING PRESIDENT OF THE LPDR WAS BORN IN XIENG KHOUANG.[JULY 13TH]PRINCE SOUPHANOUVONG LATER PRESIDENT FROM 1975-1991 WAS BORN IN LUANG PRABANG.

1910:[JULY]VAN NA PHOUM ,A LU TRIBAL CHIEF WHO HAD LED A REVELLION AGAINST FRENCH RULE DIED IN CHINA.[JULY 9TH]PHENG PHONGSAVAN LATER FOREIGN MINISTER AND DEFENCE MINISTER WAS BORN IN LUANG PRABANG.[NOVEMBER 14TH]THE FRENCH RESIDENT IN SARAVANE, J.DAUPLAY, TREACHEROUSLY SHOT AND WOUNDED THE REBEL LEADER, KOMMADAM AFTER ARRANGING A TRUCE MEETING WITH THE LATTER. DAUPLAY WAS CRITICISED IN THE COLONIAL PRESS BUT EXONERATED BY THE GOVERNMENT FOR HIS ACTIONS. KOMMADAM ESCAPED AND RECOVERED IN HIDING.[NOVEMBER]BAC MY, A SELF PROFESSED HOLY MAN, WAS BAYONETED AND KILLED 'WHILE TRYING TO ESCAPE' FROM FRENCH HOUSE ARREST.
1911:SOUNTHONE PATHAMMAVONG LATER ROYAL LAO ARMY CHIEF OF STAFF 1962-1972,WAS BORN IN VIENTIANE.[DECEMBER 2ND]BOUN OUM A PRINCE OF CHAMPASSAK AND LATER PRIME MINISTER WAS BORN IN CHAMPASSAK.
1912:THE FRENCH CONDUCTED THE FIRST CENSUS OF THE LAO POPULATION. THE PROTECTORATE CONTAINED 649,600 INHABITANTS.NHIAVU LOBLIAYAO LATER FOUNDER MEMBER OF THE PEOPLE'S PARTY WAS BORN IN XIENG KHOUANG.
1913:[APRIL 19TH]PRINCE SOMSANITH LATER PRIME MINISTER IN 1960 WAS BORN IN LUANG PRABANG.


1914:[MAY 12TH]THE FRENCH INTRODUCED A SERIES OF NEW AND INCREASED TAXES ON THE LAOTIAN PROTECTORATE.[NOVEMBER 11TH]CHINESE AND TAI HILL TRIBE INSURGENTS SEIZED THE FRENCH POST OF SAM NEUA IN NORTH EASTERN LAOS. THEY LATER RETREATED WITH WEAPONS AND OPIUM AFTER FRENCH TROOPS WERE DISPATCHED. THE UPRISING WAS FINALLY QUELLED IN 1916.[DECEMBER]THE CHAO FA THE RULER OF LUANG NAM THA PROVINCE, IN THE EXTREME NORTH WEST OF THE PROTECTORATE,COMMENCED A REVOLT AGAINST THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT.[DECEMBER 6TH]KOU VORAVONG LATER THE FOUNDER OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND MINISTER OF DEFENCE WAS BORN IN SAVANNAKHET.[DECEMBER 29TH]NGON SANANIKONE LATER MINISTER IN GOVERNMENT FROM 1960-1973 WAS BORN IN VIENTIANE.
1915:[JANUARY 13TH]SOUK VONGSAK LATER LEADING LPF POLITICIAN WAS BORN IN LUANG PRABANG.[JANUARY 21ST]NORTH EASTERN LAOS WAS PLACED UNDER FRENCH MILITARY ADMINISTRATION.[NOVEMBER 18TH]QUINIM PHOLSENA LATER FOREIGN MINISTER WAS BORN IN CHAMPASSAK.
1916:NOUHAK PHOUMSAVAN LATER PRESIDENT OF THE SUPREME PEOPLES ASSEMBLY WAS BORN IN SAVANNAKHET.
1917:[AUGUST 7TH]LEUAM INSIXIENGMAY LATER DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER 1965-1975 WAS BORN IN SAVANNAKHET.[DECEMBER 30TH]OUDOM SOUVANNAVONG LATER A GOVERNMENT MINISTER 1954-1957 WAS BORN IN VIENTIANE.
1918:[OCTOBER]A REBEL BAND OF SOME 300 HMONG, LED BY BA CHAY, ATTACKED TAI HILLTRIBE VILLAGES IN THE MUANG THENG REGION. THE HMONG REVOLT QUICKLY SPREAD OVER A LARGE AREA AND FORCED THE FRENCH TO MOUNT A LARGE EXPEDITION TO PUT IT DOWN.
1919:OUANE RATHIKOUNE LATER COMMANDER OF THE ROYAL LAO ARMY FROM 1965-1975 WAS BORN IN LUANG PRABANG.[AUGUST 13TH]TOUBY LYFOUNG LATER LEADING POLITICIAN 1958-1975 WAS BORN IN XIENG KHOUANG.[OCTOBER]HMONG REBELS, LED BY BA CHAY, SWEPT ACROSS NORTH EASTERN LAOS AND NORTH WESTERN VIETNAM IN AN ATTEMPT TO CREATE AND INDEPENDENT HMONG KINGDOM.

1920:KEYSONE PHOMVIHANE LATER PRESIDENT AND SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE PEOPLES PARTY WAS BORN IN SAVANNAKHET.[JANUARY 27TH]PHOUMI NOSAVAN LATER A RIGHT WING GENERAL WAS BORN IN SAVANNAKHET.[OCTOBER 13TH]THE FRENCH ISSUED A DECREE ESTABLISHING NOMINATED PROVINCIAL ADVISORY COUNCILS.
1922:[SEPTEMBER 13TH]SISANA SISANE LATER MINISTER OF INFORMATION FROM 1975-1983, WAS BORN IN SAVANNAKHET.[NOVEMBER]BA CHAY, THE LEADER OF THE HMONG REVOLT IN NORTHERN LAOS AND VIETNAM, WAS KILLED BY FRENCH FORCES. THIS EFFETIVELY ENDED THE FOUR YEAR HMONG REVOLT.
1923:LOFOUNG PABLIA LATER A CENTRAL COMMITTEE MEMBER OF THE LPF WAS BORN IN XIENG KHOUANG.[FEBRUARY 13TH]INPENG SURYADHAY LATER PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL LIBERATION OF THE LAO PEOPLE WAS BORN IN CHAMPASSAK.[APRIL 27TH]A GOVERNMENT DECREE ESTABLISHED A PARTIALLY ELECTED INDIGENOUS CONSULTATIVE ASSEMBLY TO ADVISED THE FRENCH RESIDENT SUPERIEUR.[AUGUST 30TH]THE INDIGENOUS CONSULTATIVE ASSEMBLY MET FOR THE FIRST TIME. IT CONSISTED OF 34 MEMBERS, 20 ELECTED FROM THE 10 PROVINCES AND 14 APPOINTED FROM THE PROVINCES AND BY THE KING AND FRENCH RESIDENT SUPERIEUR.
1924:AN UPRISING TOOK PLACE NEAR VIENTIANE AGAINST THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT. THE REVOLT WAS QUICKLY PUT DOWN.[FEBRUARY 8TH] KHAMTAY SIPHANDON LATER PRIME MINISTER WAS BORN.
1925:A REBEL GROUP LED BY KOMMADAM BEGAN CIRCULATING ANTI-FRENCH MATERIAL ON THE BOLOVENS PLATEAU. THE REBEL GROUP EVADED ALL ATTEMPTS BY THE FRENCH TO TRACK THEM DOWN.[AUGUST 25TH]A PERMANENT FRANCO-SIAMESE HIGH COMMISSION OF THE MEKONG WAS ESTABLISHED.AUGUSTE PAVIE THE FORMER FRENCH COMMISSIONER DIED IN FRANCE. KHAMPHAY BOUPHA LATER EDITOR OF THE PATHET LAO NEWSPAPER LAO HAK SAT WAS BORN IN LUANG PRABANG. KOUPRASITH ADHAY LATER A LEADING RIGHT WING MILITARY COMMANDER AND POLITICIAN WAS BORN.[SEPTEMBER 29TH]SALI VONGKHAMSAO LATER DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER 1982-1991 WAS BORN IN CHAMPASSAK.
1926:[AUGUST]FRANCE SIGNED AN AGREEMENT THAT ESTABLISHED A DE-MILITARIZED ZONE [DMZ] ON THE BORDER BETWEEN FRENCH CONTROLLED LAOS AND CAMBODIA AND THAILAND.
1928:A MIXED CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND AGRICULTURE WAS FORMED TO ACT AS A PRESSURE GROUP TO REPRESENT FRENCH COMMERCIAL INTERESTS IN LAOS. IT CONSISTED OF 8 ELECTED FRENCH MEMBERS ,4 APPOINTED LAO AND 1 NOMINATED VIETNAMESE.[MARCH 29TH]SISOUK NA CHAMPASSAK LATER LEADING CDIN FIGURE WAS BORN IN CHAMPASSAK.[JULY 10]THE FRENCH ESTABLISHED A SCHOOL OF LAW AND ADMINISTRATION.
1929:KHAM OUANE BOUPHA LATER THE COMMANDER OF THE PATRIOTIC NEUTRALIST ARMY WAS BORN IN LUANG PRABANG.

1930:[JUNE 5TH]THE FRENCH LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL DESIGNATED LAOS AS A FRENCH COLONY, IGNORING THE STATUS OF LUANG PRABANG AS A PROTECTORATE.
1931:[DECEMBER 29TH]IN AN EXCHANGE OF CORRESPONDENCE, THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT ASSURED KING SISAVANG VONG THAT LUANG PRABANG WILL REMAINED AS A PROTECTORATE OF FRANCE. VANG PAO LATER LEADER OF THE HMONG PEOPLE AGAINST THE PATHET LAO WAS BORN IN XIENG KHOUANG.
1933:AN UPRISING WHICH WAS PUT DOWN BY THE FRENCH NEAR VIENTIANE.
1934:SIHO LAMPHOUTHACOUL LATER A POLICE GENERAL WAS BORN.[MARCH 6TH]KONG LE LATER LEADER OF NEUTRALIST FORCES WAS BORN IN SAVANNAKHET.
1936:[SEPTEMBER 23RD]AFTER RESISTING THE FRENCH FOR OVER THIRTY YEARS,THE REBEL KOLOVENS PLATEAU LEADER KOMMADAM WAS SHOT AND KILLED. HIS SON WERE IMPRISONED BY THE FRENCH.
1938:[DECEMBER]A REVOLT AGAINST FRENCH RULE BROKE OUT IN SOUTH-EASTERN LAOS. IT ENDED WITH THE DEATH OF ITS LEADER IN FEBRUARY 1939.

1941:[AUGUST 21ST]A FRANCO LAO TREATY WAS SIGNED WITH LUANG PRABANG. THE FRENCH COMPENSATED THE PROTECTORATE FOR THE LOSS OF SAYABOURY TO THAILAND BY CEDING VIENTIANE,XIENG KHOUANG AND LUANG NAM THA TO LUANG PRABANG.
1945:[APRIL 8TH]KING SISAVANG VONG WAS FORCED TO DECLARE THE INDEPENDENCE FROM THE FRENCH BY THE JAPANESE. PRINCE PHETSARATH SERVED AS PRIME MINISTER OF THE LUANG PRABANG GOVERNMENT.[AUGUST 30TH]KING SISAVANG VONG OF LUANG PRABANG DECLARED THAT THE FRENCH PROTECTORATE OVER LAOS REMAINED IN FORCE.[SEPTEMBER 1ST ]THE PRIME MINISTER OR LUANG PRABANG, PRINCE PHETSARATH ISSUED AN INDEPENDENCE PROCLAMATION TO THE POPULATION OF LUANG PRABANG. AS THE LEADER OF THE LAO ISSARA OR FREE LAO MOVEMENT, HE CLAIMED THAT FRENCH FAILURE TO DEFEND LAOS FROM THE JAPANESE ABROGATED THEIR RIGHT TO RETURN TO GOVERN OVER LAOS. LAO ISSARA FORCES TOOK POWER IN VIENTIENE, SAVANNAKHET AND OTHER LAO TOWNS.[SEPTEMBER 8TH]THREE OFFICERS OF THE STRATEGIC SERVICES OFFICERS PARACHUTED INTO VIENTIANE TO HELP REESTABLISHED ORDER. HOWEVER , THEY SET UP THEIR BASE JUST ACROSS THE MEKONG RIVER IN THAILAND.[SEPTEMBER 14TH]AT THE INVITATION OF PRINCE BOUM OUM OF CHAMPASSAK, FRENCH TROOPS OCCUPIED THE TOWN OF PAKSE. [SEPTEMBER 15TH]PRIME MINISTER PRINCE PHETSARATH ANNOUNCED THE UNIFICATION OF LUANG PRABANG AND THE SOUTHERN PROVINCES INTO A SINGLE KINGDOM AND DECLARED ITS INDEPENDENCE FROM FRANCE.[OCTOBER 8TH]PRINCE SOUPHANOUVONG AND OUN SANANIKONE AGREED IN SAVANNAKHET TO MERGE THEIR RESPECTIVE MILITARY FORCES AND CALL THEMSELVES THE ARMY FOR THE LIBERATION AND DEFENCE OF LAOS. THE MOVE WAS OFFICIALLY ENDORSED BY THE LAO ISSARA GOVERNMENT IN VIENTIENE AND THE ARMY WAS RENAMED THE LAO ISSARA ARMED FORCES[OCTOBER 30TH].[OCTOBER 10TH]KING SISAVANG VONG REMOVED PRINCE PHETSARATH FROM THE PRIME MINISTERSHIP.[OCTOBER 12TH]SUPPORTERS OF OUSTED PRIME MINISTER, PRINCE PHETSARATH ANNOUNCED THE FORMULATION OF A NEW CONSTITUTION AND THE CREATION OF A LAO ISSARA PEOPLES ASSEMBLY. PRINCE PHETSARATH WAS APPOINTED PRESIDENT WITH KHAMMAO VILAY AS PRIME MINISTER.[OCTOBER 20TH]THE LAO ISSARA PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT VOTED TO DEPOSED KING SISAVANG AFTER HE REFUSED TO SUPPORT THEM. AMONG THE DEPUTIES WERE PRINCE SOUVANNA PHOUMA AND PRINCE SOUPHANOUVONG.[NOVEMBER]LAO ISSARA FORCES LED BY GENERAL SING RATHANASAMAY, RECAPTURE XIENG KHOUANG FROM THE FRENCH. [NOVEMBER 1ST]PRINCE SOUPHANOUVONG SIGNED AN AGREEMENT WITH THE VIETMINH BY WHICH BOTH SIDES WOULD PROVIDE MUTUAL ASSISTANCE IN THEIR INDEPENDENT STRUGGLES.

FIRST INDOCHINA WAR[1946-1954]


1946[MARCH 17TH]FRENCH TROOPS MOVED NORTH FROM PAKSE AND OCCUPIED THE TOWN OF SAVANNAKHET, MEETING LITTLE RESISTANCE FROM THE LAO ISSARA FORCES UNDER PRINCE SOUPHANPUVONG AND OUN SANANIKONE.[MARCH 21ST]LAO ISSARA AND THE VIETMINH FORCES COMMANDED BY PRINCE SOUPHANOUVONG WERE HEAVILY DEFEATED BY FRENCH TROOPS AT THE BATTLE OF THAKHET.LAOTIAN LOSSES EXCEEDED 700 SOLDIERS AND 300 CIVILIANS KILLED. THE FRENCH TROOPS DESTROYED THE VIETNAMESE QUARTER OF TOWN AS RETRIBUTION FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE LAO ISSARA FORCES. PRINCE SOUPHANOUVONG WAS AMONG THE WOUNDED.[APRIL 23RD]THE LAO ISSARA GOVERNMENT REINSTATED SISAVANG VONG AS KING OF LAOS AFTER HE AGREED TO LEGITIMISE THE PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENTS ACTIONS.[APRIL 24TH]FRENCH MILITARY FORCES OCCUPIED VIENTIANE AS LAO ISSARA FORCES UNDER PRINCE SOUPHANOUVONG FLED TO BANGKOK AND ESTABLISHED A GOVERNMENT IN EXILE IN THAILAND.[MAY 13TH]THE ROYAL CAPITAL OF LUANG PRABANG FELL TO THE ADVANCING FRENCH FORCES.[AUGUST 27TH]THE FRENCH REACHED AN AGREEMENT WITH THE KING, SISAVANG VONG WHEREBY FRENCH CONTROL WAS RESTORED. THE FRENCH ,IN RETURN RECOGNISED THE UNIFICATION OF LAOS AS A ROYAL KINGDOM UNDER SISAVANG VONG. PRINCE BOUN OUM OF CHAMPASSAK RENOUNCED ALL SOVEREIGN RIGHTS TO HIS FORMER KINGDOM.[DECEMBER 15TH]ELECTIONS FOR A 44 MEMBER CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY WERE HELD. THIS WAS THE FIRST POLL EVER CONDUCTED IN THE COUNTRY.
1947[MARCH]KOU VORAVONG ,THE GOVERNOR OF THAKHEK,WAS SERIOUSLY WOUNDED IN A ATTACK BY LEFT WING GUERRILLAS NEAR HINBOUN IN KHAMMOUANE PROVINCE.[MARCH 15TH]PRINCE SOUPHANOUVONG WAS APPOINTED AS THE FIRST PRIME MINISTER OF THE CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY.[MAY 11TH]THE CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY FORMALLY PROMULGATED THE NEW CONSTITUTION DECLARED LAOS AN INDEPENDENT MONARCHY WITHIN THE FRENCH UNION. [AUGUST]ELECTIONS WERE HELD FOR A NATIONAL ASSEMBLY UNDER THE FRAMEWORK OF THE NEW CONSTITUTION. PRIME MINISTER, PRINCE SOUPHANOUVONG FORMED THE FIRST GOVERNMENT UNDER THE NEW ASSEMBLY. [DECEMBER 23RD]LAOS WERE OFFICIALLY PROCLAIMED AS FREE STATE WITHIN THE INDOCHINESE FEDERATION AND THE FRENCH UNION.
1948[MARCH 25TH]PRINCE BOUN OUM OUSTED PRINCE SOUPHANOUVONG AS PRIME MINISTER.
1949[JANUARY 20TH]KAYSONE PHOMVIHANE OFFICIALLY FORMED THE LATSAVONG BRIGADE, A UNIT RECRUITED AND TRAINED BY HIM TO FIGHT THE FRENCH. THE BRIGADE WAS THE FORERUNNER OF THE LAO PEOPLES LIBERATION ARMY OR PATHET LAO. [MARCH 21ST] THE PRESIDENT OF THE KING'S COUNCIL, PRINCE BOUN OUM WAS APPOINTED PRIME MINISTER TO REPLACE THE RETIRING PRINCE SOUVANNARATH.[MARCH 26TH]PRINCE SOUPHANOUVONG RESIGNED FROM HIS POSITION WITHIN THE LAO ISSARA MOVEMENT. HE REFUSED TO COME TO TERMS WITH THE FRENCH AND SOUGHT THE HELP OF THE VIETMINH.[JULY 19TH ]A TREATY WAS SIGNED IN PARIS BETWEEN THE PRESIDENT OF FRANCE AURIOL AND KING SISAVANG VONG UNDER WHICH LAOS BECAME A SOVEREIGN STATE WITHIN THE FRENCH UNION. THE FRENCH AGREED TO PRINCE SOUVANNA PHOUMA, A FORMER LEADER OF THE NOW FACTIONALISED LAO ISSARA MOVEMENT, BECOMING PRIME MINISTER OF A ROYALIST GOVERNMENT IN VIENTIANE.[OCTOBER 24TH] THE LAO ISSARA MOVEMENT WAS OFFICIALLY DISSOLVED. ITS MAIN LEADERS PRINCE SOUVANNA PHOUMA AND PRINCE SOUPHANOUVONG ,HAD EARLIER DECIDED TO TAKE DIFFERING POSITIONS WITH REGARD TO FRENCH CONTROL.
1950 [FEBRUARY 7TH]THE US GOVERNMENT RECOGNISED THE GOVERNMENT OF LAOS. [FEBRUARY 27TH]PHOUI SANANIKONE TOOK OVER FROM PRINCE BOUN OUM AS PRIME MINISTER. [JUNE 29TH]A CONFERENCE WAS HELD AT PAU IN FRANCE TO DISCUSS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION IN INDO CHINA. KING SISAVANG VONG AND PRIME MINISTER PHOUI SASANIKONE REPRESENTED LAOS, THE CONFERENCE CONTINUE UNTIL OCTOBER. [AUGUST 13TH]A THREE DAY MEETING OF A GROUP WHICH TERMED ITSELF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, WAS HELD UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE VIETMINH. OVER 100 LAO PEOPLE ATTENDED THE CONFERENCE, HEADED BY PRINCE SOUPHANOUVONG ,AND FORMED THE PATHET LAORESISTANCE GOVERNMENT. KAYSTONE PHOMVIHANE WAS APPOINTED DEFENCE MINISTER AND PHOUMI VONGVICHIT TOOK OVER THE INTERIOR MINISTRY.
1951 [SEPTEMBER 9TH]THE UNITED STATES SIGNED A MILITARY AND ECONOMIC AID AGREEMENT WITH THE FRENCH SUPPORTED LAOTIAN GOVERNMENT OF PRIME MINISTER PHOUI SANANIKONE. [NOVEMBER 21ST ]PRINCE SOUVANNA PHOUMA BECAME PRIME MINISTER,SUCCEEDING PHOUI SASANIKONE.
1953 [APRIL 11TH]IN AN ATTEMPT TO DRAW THE FRENCH OUT OF THE RED RIVER DELTA, THE VIETMINH STRUCK WEST AND INVADED LAOS. AFTER AVOIDING FRENCH OUTPOSTS ON THE PLAIN OF JARS THEY OCCUPIED SAM NEUA, A PROVINCIAL CAPITAL ABANDONED BY THE FRENCH. [APRIL 19TH]THE PATHET LAO RESISTANCE GOVERNMENT UNDER PRINCE SOUPHANOUVONG FORMALLY ESTABLISHED ITS HEADQUARTERS AT SAM NEUA, THE CAPITAL OF HOUAPHAN PROVINCES. [APRIL 20TH]AFTER LINKING UP WITH THE PATHET LAO FORCES,THE VIETMINH CAPTURED XIENG KHOUANG, BEFORE ADVANCING TO THE OUTSKIRTS OF THE LAOTIAN CAPITAL OF LUANG PRABANG. INTERESTINGLY, THEIR PRESENCE WAS PREDICTED BY THE BLIND BRONZE ,A BUDDHIST MONK RENOWNED AS A SEER, WHO STATED THAT THE VIETMINH ARMY WOULD NOT ENTER THE CAPITAL BUT RETIRE TO VIETNAM.[MAY]COMBINED PATHET LAO AND VIETMINH FORCES BEGAN TO RETIRE AFTER BOTH NEUTRALIST AND RIGHTIST LAOTIAN FORCES WERE MOBILISED. THE UNITED STATES SENT MILITARY AID TO THE RIGHTIST AND NEUTRALIST FORCES. FRENCH TROOPS RECAPTURED XIENG KHOUANG.[OCTOBER 22ND]AN AGREEMENT WAS SIGNED IN PARIS BETWEEN PRESIDENT AURIOL AND KING SISAVANG VONG WHICH GRANTED LAOS INDEPENDENT AS A MEMBER OF THE FRENCH UNION. BOTH FRANCE AND LAOS AGREED TO A MUTUAL DEFENCE TREATY. THIS ALLOWED FRENCH TROOPS TO REMAIN IN THE COUNTRY. [DECEMBER 21ST]VIETMINH FORCES,COMBINED WITH PATHET LAO TROOPS INVADED LAOS FOR THE SECOND TIME AND ATTACKED FRENCH FORCES NEAR SENO. THE FRENCH SUFFERED SIGNIFICANT LOSSES AND WERE FORCED TO TRANSFER REINFORCEMENTS FROM THE RED RIVER DELTA TO THE REGION.
1954 [JANUARY]A MAJOR BATTLE WAS FOUGHT BETWEEN FRANCO-VIETNAMESE TROOPS AND THE VIETMINH TROOPS AND THE VIETMINH FOR CONTROL OF HINE SIU VILLAGE AND THE SENO AIRSTRIP IN CENTRAL LAOS. THE FRENCH UNION FORCES WERE ABLE TO FORCE THE VIETMINH TO RETIRE.[JULY 20TH]AT THE GENEVA CONFERENCE TO END THE FIRST INDO-CHINA WAR. LAOS WAS RECOGNISED AS A NEUTRAL , INDEPENDENT STATE. THE PATHET LAO WERE ALLOCATED PHONG SALY AND HOUAPHAN PROVINCES.[AUGUST 6TH]A CEASEFIRE CAME INTO EFFECT BETWEEN THE VIETMINH,PATHET LAO AND THE FRENCH.[AUGUST 16TH]BURMESE RECOGNITION OF THE GOVERNMENT OF LAOS SO DID SRI LANKA.[SEPTEMBER 18TH]THE DEFENCE MINISTER,KOU VORAVONG WAS ASSASSINATED BY A SNIPER WHILE VISITING THE HOME OF FOREIGN MINISTER, PHOUI SANANIKONE.[OCTOBER 20TH]PRIME MINISTER ,PRINCE SOUVANNA PHOUMA RESIGNED OVER ALLEGATIONS OF INVOLVEMENT IN THE DEATH OF KOU VORAVONG A MONTH EARLIER.[NOVEMBER 27TH]KATAY DON SASORITH FORMED A COALITION GOVERNMENT WITH PHOUI SANANIKONE AS FOREIGN MINISTER.[DECEMBER]PEACE TALKS COMMENCED BETWEEN THE LAOTIAN GOVERNMENT OF KATAY DON SASORITH AND THE PATHET LAO.LAOS ALSO SIGNED AN AGREEMENT WITH FRANCE GIVING LAOS ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE.

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