During the war the Japanese ruled Laos using the French administration. When they left in 1945 a group of ruling class nationalists tried to declare independence but they were ousted by British and French troops. (It is worth emphasising that throughout South-East Asia it was British imperialism - the Labour Government - which put back into power the enfeebled colonialists of France and Holland who by themselves could never have done it.) These nationalists fled to Thailand: some like Katay became allies of the French while others like Prince Souphanovong formed a new, more radical group. Souphanovong was a royal prince who had studied in France and had worked in the French docks during the popular front period (1936-38); he radicalised gradually, and in 1949 met Ho Chi Minh who told him to fight the imperialists.
In 1950 an independent State of Laos, Pathet Lao, was proclaimed and a patriotic front, Neo Lao Issara (Free Laos Front) established. It included many political positions and representatives of all the ethnic groups; it was the first political formation in Laos to do so. Its programme called for equality for all ethnic groups, united fight against the French and abolition of unjust taxes. In 1951 a imparte agreement between tne issara, tne Vietminh and the Cambodian Khmer Issarak group was signed, which led to joint military operations in 1953. It was the heroic actions of The left controls the highlands of Laos and the the Laotian comrades which prevented the French from saving Dian Bien Phu, since the Pathet Lao forces cut the land route and shelled the airfields in Laos from which Dien Bien Phu was being supplied.
The imperialists prevented Pathet Lao from attending the 1954 Geneve Conference but the PL retained control of two northern provinces, Sam Neuaand Phong Saly, until elections were held. Instead. however. the IS not the richtist jets operating out of Vietnam, Thailand and carriers in the ocean; secondly, there are two CIA airlines, Air America and Air Continental, who operate out of Thailand and Laos itself and ferry arms and supplies. The pay of a mercenary pilot in one of these lines is $30,000 per year, and that of the "fixer", the man who pushes out the bags of rice at the right time, is $12,000. These two lines have over 300 employees. Quite apart from these US advisers there is a 113-strong French military advisory group who date from 1954: they are working with the US and show the real nature of French. "neutralism" in the area PROSPECTS