Britain And The Neutralisation Of Laos

This study focuses on the Geneva Conference on Laos of 1961-2, which Britain played a role in bringing about and concluding. It sheds light on Britain's policy in Southeast Asia during a time when its influence was crucial. It is the first book to fully utilize the British archives on the conference.

The book also discusses the history of Laos, Vietnam, and Southeast Asia. The core of the Geneva Settlement was the neutralisation of Laos, which also served as an argument for the United States to strengthen its commitments to Thailand and Vietnam. It was acceptable to North Vietnam only if it did not prevent the continued use of the Ho Chi Minh trail, supporting resistance in South Vietnam. Despite elaborate negotiations, the agreement on neutralisation had little chance of success, but it contributed to the later development of the concept of a neutral Southeast Asia, pursued by ASEAN.

The book will be of interest across various fields such as modern Southeast Asian history, the history of Laos, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, and international relations. It will especially interest those studying Britain's policy during its period of reducing commitments and seeking to prevent Cold War escalation.