STONE JAR FROM GENERAL VANG PAO

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP84-00780R003600010038-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 13
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 14, 2006
• Sequence Number: 38
• Publication Date: February 10, 1970
• Content Type: MF

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.1rry. -.Nl~ .
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I FFEB ORM 58'241 REPLACES FORM 38-8
WHICH MAY BE USED.
TRANSMITTAL SLIP
DATE
11 February 1970
TO:
George Carver
ROOM NO.
BUILDING
6-F-1
adauarters
REMARKS:
Attached is the FE summary
statement on the history of the stone jar
of Laos..
R
. a ner an
FROM: O-DDS
ROOM NO.
7-D-26
BUILDING
Headquarters
DD/S: RLB:llc (11 February 1970)
Distri tion:
O/ Addressee w/xcy of att to DD/S 70-0575
DD/S Subject w/ccy of.DD/S 70-0575 and att
-1 - DD/S Chrono w/o att
DD/S 70-0575, Memo dtd 10 Feb 70 for DCI frm OGC Subj: ;Stone Jar
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70- e,` 75
10 February 1970
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director of Central Intelligence
SUBJECT: Stone Jar from General Vang Pao
1. The following information is for your use in
approaching Mr. S. Dillon Ripley about having the jar
given by Major General Vang Pao put on exhibition in the
Smithsonian Institution.
2. By law a gift of this sort, even if given to an
individual, is deemed to be accepted an behalf of the United
States. There are detailed regulations of the Secretary of
State on disposition of such a gift. The responsible official
is the Chief of Protocol.
3. Our inquiries indicate that if the Smithsonian is
willing to accept the jar, it will be sufficient to write a letter
to the Chief of Protocol, stating the agreed on disposition.
We have checked with the Protocol Office on a hypothetical
basis and probably can handle this aspect for you. A member
of my staff made a blind telephone call to the Smithsonian and
was told by Mr. George Metcalf, of the Old World Anthropology
Section, that the Institution does not have a jar from the Plaine
des Jars, and we understand very few of them have ever been
taken out of Laos.
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4. 1 have talked to Winthrop G. Brown, Deputy Assistant
Secretary, Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Department
of State, who is enthusiastic about getting the jar to the Smithsonian
and would be willing to help if needed. I have also talked to Peter
Powers, General Counsel of the Smithsonian, who sees no technical
problem but is the one who raised the point that some of the trustees
of the Smithsonian are extremely wary of any connection whatsoever
with this Agency. He does not believe this will be a major problem,
but may condition the way the exhibition is set up.
S. If Mr. Ripley is agreeable, Bob Bannerman and I can
probably work out the details.
6. Attached is information Supplied by FE Division on what
is known about the jars.
S/
LAWRENCE R. HOUSTON
Attachment General Counsel
cc: `DDS
C/FE
P-J
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16 January 1970
SUBJECT: Gift Stone Jar
On 16 January I checked with Larry Houston as to the terms under
which the gift of the Lao jar would be received from General Vang Pao.
The j ar should be given as a gift from the Laotian Government to the
Government of the United States through Mr. Helms. FE
instructions to Vientiane to so advise yang Pao. I advise
and Jack Blake of the above and we can proceed with shipment of the jar
to Washington. It will be admitted through U. S. customs as ro erty of
the United States Government. I suggested to bo nd
Jack Blake that they consider the use of =Or the air transport of the
jar ifas a trip planned in the Far Eastern area.
R.
Deputy Director
for Support
DD/S: RLB: llc
Distribution:
O - DD/S Subject w/background
1 - DD/S Chrono
25X1
25X1
25X1
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 ^ UNUA~IUE#ired For[R
"*/07/14: CIA-RDP84 ^7 CDEN1)hA1b38-3 ^ SECRET
ROUTING AND RECORD SHEET
SUBJECT: (Optional)
r
c~
FROM:
-
NO.
25X1
C F E/ S S
DATE
TO: (Officer designation, room number, and
building)
DATE
OFFICER'S
COMMENTS (Number each comment to show from whom
RECEIVED
FORWARDED
INITIALS
to whom. Draw a line across column after each comment.)
1. DDS
7D26
-
Attached is copy of memo on gift
of stone jar to Director. We
2.
understand from Larry Houston
that the Director will accept the
gift, with possible arrangements
3.
made later for transfer to the
Smithsonian. Jack Blake has
d
4
called me on the transport an
says he will contact you directly.
Believe it might be advisable to
5.
have short meeting to ensure we
all on same wave length.
6.
25X1
8.
9.
10.
11.
ILLEGIB
12.
13.
14.
15.
FORM 61 p USEDITIO S ^ SECRET ^ CONFIDENTIAL r-] INTERNAL
F] UNCLASSIFIED
3-62
ONLY
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 ^ UNCLASSI FkDroved ^o OO6/07114 : CIA-RDF?-OC AD ddi1 OO38-3 ^ SECRET
ROUTING AND RECORD SHEET
SUBJECT: (Optional)
FROM:
EXTENSION
NO.
CFE/SS
I
DATE
14 Jan. T
ST]
TO: (Officer designation, room number, and
building)
DATE
OFFICER'S
COMMENTS (Number each comment to show from whom
RECEIVED
FORWARDED
INITIALS
to whom. Draw a line across column after each comment.)
DDS
There has been no response as
2,
yet from the Director to Vang Pao
re the gift offer of a jar from the
POJ. It is our understanding
3.
from Larry Houston that the
Director requested DDS to handle
the gift matter.
4
There are potential problems re
5.
the jar, as you are aware. We
have a suggested cable response t
but wanted
Vientiane (attached)
6.
,
to discuss with you since you were
at the Deputies meeting in which
this was discussed.
a ~reciate a short meeting
Would
8.
wit ST
myself, and Jack Blake so we
roblem
We
settle the jar
a
9.
.
p
c
n
are concerned over the long
delay, since 19 Dec. , of
10.
Director response to yang Pao.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
FORM 610 USE PREVIOUS SECRET CONFIDENTIAL INTERNAL UNCLASSIFIED
3-62 EDITIONS F-1 ^ ^ USE ONLY ^
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1. PLEASE CONVEY TO VANG PAO MY DEEP APPRECIATION FOR
IIIS OFFER. OF THE JAR FROM TILE PLAIN OF JARS. I ACKNOWLEDGE
THIS PROPOSED GIFT AND RESPOND TO IT IN THE SAME SPIRIT IN
WHICH IT IS TENDERED, 1)I A SYMBOL OF RESPECT PsN- 'RI 4i -
FOR VANG PAO AND THE MEO PEOPLE WHO HAVE SO BRAVELY
DEFENDED THEIR HOMELAND.
2. THE SELECTION OF THIS GIFT AND THE VERY FACT THAT
VANG PAO IIAS BEEN ABLE TO OBTAIN AND OFFER IT TO ME ON BEHALF
OF S IN ITSELF EXTREMELY GRATIFYING. THE GIFT IS
RECOGNIZED AS PART OF TIIE HISTORICAL HERITAGE OF LAOS, AND
IS SO UNIQUE AND INVALUABLE THAT I HIND IT IMPOSSIBLE LEGALLY
AND OTHERWISE TO ACCEPT ON BE.ITALF OF AND RETAIN THE GIFT
W ITHINI
3. IN ACCEPTING A GIFT OF THIS INTRINSIC AND HISTORIC VALUE,
I AM REQUIRED TO ACCEPT ON BEHALF OF TIIE UNITED STATES
GOVERNMENT, AND CONSULT THE SECRETARY OF STATE AS TO
ULTIMATE DISPOSITION OF THIS GIFT. I WOULD PROPOSE TO
RECOMMEND TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE THAT THE GIFT BE
PLACED IN TIIE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUT: IN WASHINGTON, WHERE IT
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COULD BE APPRECIATED BY ALL VISITORS TO THIS MUSEUM, IN
SO DOING, THE FACT THAT SUCH A VALUABLE ARTIFACT FROM LAOS
EXISTS AT THE SMITHSONIAN WILL BECOME PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE
AND PROBABLY BECOME A MATTER OF PUBLICITY AS WELL. WHILE
I AM CONFIDENT I CAN ARRANGE TO KELP ROM BEING
INVOLVED IN SUCH PUBLICITY, I WOULD NOT WANT YOU TO BE
EMBARRASSED IN ANY WAY IN YOUR OWN COUNTRY AS THE DONOR OF
THE GIFT. YOU MAY WISH TO DISCUSS IN ADVANCE WITH PREMIER
SOUVANNA PHOUMA YOUR PROPOSED GIFT, AND IF YOU AND HE
AGREE THAT THE GIFT IS A PROPER ONE FROM YOUR COUNTRY,
THAT IT BE OVERTLY TENDERED AS A GIFT FROM THE PEOPLE OF
LAOS; THROUGH SOUVANNA PIIOUMA, TO THE PEOPLE OF THE
UNITED STATES. THIS WOULD IN NO WAY DIMINISH THE FACT THAT I
WOULD STILL CONSIDER THE GIFT AS A SYMBOL OF MUTUAL RESPECT
FROM YOU AND YOUR PEOPLE TO ME AND THIS AGENCY.
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7 January 1970
MEMORANDUM FOR: her. Houston
SUBJECT: The Director's Gift Jar
1. The following is a record of my findings and research
of the law and regulations relating to the Director's acceptance of
a jar from the 'laine des Jars from a Laotian leader and his de-
clared desire of having a jar repose in the Smithsonian. As you
know. P. L. 39-673 (5 U. S. C. 7342) prov:.des that a Government
official may accept a gift of more than minimal value ($50) only
when to refuse same would embarrass the donor or adversely affect
foreign relations with the United States. Such gifts, however, are
deemed to be "accepted on behalf of United Stags and shall be de-
posited by the donee for use and disposal as the property of the
United States" as provided by regulations. 5 U.S.C. 734Z(c)2. The
responsibility for providing regulations was vested in the President
who in turn delegated the authority to the Secretary of State.
5 U.S.C. 7342(e) & E. O. 11320, 12 Dec 66. The Secretary's regu-
lations at 3 F.A.M. 621.6c direct that a gift of more than the
minimum value "may be accepted and shall be deposited with the
Chief of Protocol for disposal in accordance with section 621.7.
If, however, the donee's agency wishes to retain the gift for an
official use, there is no requirement that the gift actually be deposited
with the Chief of Protocol, and only his perfunctory approval is re-
quired. In practice, simply notifying mfrs. Daisy Johnson of his office
is sufficient. Gifts not retained for official use are suppcis'ed to be
forwarded to the Chief of Protocol who turns them over to the General
Services Administration "for transfer, donation, or other disposal in
accordance with such instructions as may be furnished by that officer.
In the absence of such instructions, such property will be transferred
or disposed of by the General Services Adxpinistration." 3 F.A.M. 621.7.
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2. 1 made a nurnber of phone calls to the Smithsonian to
see if it had a jar horn the Plaine des Jars. When I found a
gentleman who could answer the question, a Mr. George Metcalf,
of the Old World Anthropology Section, I was informed that the
Institution does not have such a jar. My request was framed along
the line that I wanted to view and examine a jar and although he was
rather short mannered, he stated he did not know of any museum in
the United Statos which had one. I did not pursue thy: question of
whether he would like to have one.
3. 1 next called M.rs. Johnson who is responsible for foreign
gifts and decorations. I presented a hypothetical case, suggesting
that a gift had been offered to a senior, Agency official but not yet
accepted. The gift was of more than minimal value and one which
would exmba;rasa or offend the donor if not accepted. The Agency
could not really find an official use for the gift and the senior official
would very much like to see it given to the Smithsonian. Mrs. John-
son pointed out the provisions I have cited above at 3 F.A. M. 621.7
and expressed her belief that if the senior official were to send a
r to the Chief of Protocol requesting that the item be given to
the Smithsonian, she was certain it would go there. Accordingly,
the avenue for getting the jar from the Director to the Smithsonian
exists and all that seems necessary is for us to do a little advance
leg work to enaure of minimum red tape.
OGC:GM 3: sab
Distribution:
Orig. - AWARDS, GIFTS & COMMENDATIONS
I - GMB Signer
I - Chrono
/1-FE
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