751H.00/8–2654: Telegram
The Chargé in Cambodia (Goodman) to the Department of State
89. Sent Saigon 106, repeated information Paris 81, Bangkok unnumbered. Prime Minister Penn Nouth told me government delivered to Control Commission Chief General Singh documented protest, signed by Defense and Interior Ministers, against Viet Minh failure disarm Khmer Viet Minh by July 23 (Embtel 84 to Department).1
Premier said he now thoroughly disabused concerning Viet Minh obfuscations on Mixed Commission and realizes Communists will try take every advantage of truce terms and of development situation. Thus, although no great security problem remaining Cambodia, his representatives will now minutely examine every item, and government will let nothing pass without protest or appropriate action.
This indicates continuation characteristic Cambodian approach—so well demonstrated by “royal crusade” for independence and at Geneva—recently described to me by National Police Chief Viriya as always “playing last card”, and, in spite of well-rounded concern of Chief, French Military Mission with malevolence Viet Minh intentions (Embtel 76 to Department),2 Cambodians aware of problem and doing best to be tough-minded and alert.
However, officials here increasingly discuss their concern about possibility Communist takeover all Vietnam, and consequent danger Cambodia. Although some hotheads like say no concern of theirs what happens to Vietnam thoughtful ones including most important leaders, express hope SEATO guarantee will cover not only frontiers Cambodia but also Vietnam, and obvious idea has several times been presented to me that ultimate defense Cambodia and Thailand enormously facilitated by firm control entire southern portion Indochina peninsula, with worried corollary that loss southern Vietnam might make effective defense Cambodia impossible. Thus I have received number of queries about whether US would effectively back southern Vietnamese.