Desperation's Child

For six weeks the quarreling Laotian politicians had been unable to select a new Premier. Last week parliamentary leaders suddenly made up their minds. Picked as the youngest Premier in Laotian history was Tiao Somsanith, 47, who has a shining reputation for honesty and ability. As governor of the northern province of Houa Khong, Somsanith was one of the few Laotian leaders not involved in the diversion of U.S. foreign aid funds, looked after the non-Lao tribes committed to his care so solicitously that the pro-Communist Pathet Lao forces were unable to make any inroads in his territory. According to Laotian cynics, he is perhaps the only anti-Communist Laotian politician who would win by a sweep in a free election.

Though the new Premier was the personal choice of Laos' military strongman, General Phoumi Nosavan, he owed his job primarily to Red Prince Souphanouvong, the mustachioed Pathet Lao leader who jumped jail near Vientiane a fortnight ago and rejoined his comrades in the jungle. Facing the probable flareup of guerrilla activity, Laos' heavy-lidded politicians decided that desperate situations require desperate measures, even electing the best man.

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