The Lao prince and political leader Souvanna Phouma (1901-1984) played a political balancing role during the first decade and a half of Lao independence that may have permitted the survival of the badly splintered Southeast Asian nation.

Born on October 7, 1901, in Luang Prabang in then French-ruled Laos, Prince Souvanna Phouma was educated as an engineer in France. Highly Frenchified in manner, he subsequently served as an engineer in the public transport department upon his return from France. He supported the 1945 declaration of independence, made by King Sisavangvong with strong Japanese encouragement; and, when French troops returned to reoccupy the country, he joined the national resistance movement (Lao Issara) in neighboring Thailand.

Following French acquiesence in partial independence, Souvanna Phouma served as minister of public transport, minister of planning, and minister of posts and telegraphs in 1950-1951. Premier during the years when Lao independence was finally completely obtained (1951-...