Office of the Historian

253. Letter From the Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs (Robertson to the Ambassador in Cambodia (Strom)1

Washington, March 6, 1957.

Dear Carl: I certainly agree with the statement in your letter of February 142 that it would be highly desirable for Sihanouk to understand us better. One way to improve such understanding probably would be to bring him here so that he could get better acquainted with the United States and become convinced, as have other Cambodian visitors, that the Americans are friendly towards the Cambodians and that the sole aim of the United States in Cambodia is to assist that country to remain independent.

While I agree that from many points of view a Sihanouk visit to the United States would be desirable, I do not believe we can approach Sihanouk along these lines at the present time. The schedule of visits this year is extremely crowded and we are having trouble in fitting in visits from Magsaysay and Diem …. We will, however, keep in mind a visit from Sihanouk as a possibility for next year, depending on the relationship between our two countries at that time.

I recognize that under your proposal a visit from the Prince would not be in the category of a state visit as will be those of Magsaysay and Diem.3 However, in view of Sihanouk’s position and importance, I believe we would have to treat him practically in the same manner as if he were making a state visit. Red carpet treatment appears all the more necessary since he apparently feels that he is entitled to it. In my opinion, he would expect on his next visit to the [Page 559] States even more than the considerable courtesies he received during his last visit in 1953.

It will be a real pleasure to see you in Phnom Penh shortly and to discuss this and other matters with you.

Sincerely,

Walter S. Robertson4
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751H.11/2–1457. Secret; Official–Informal. Drafted by Price and cleared by Kocher and Sebald.↩
  2. Supra.↩
  3. Diem visited the United States May 5–20, 1957. President Magsaysay of the Philippines never visited the United States; he was killed in an airplane crash on March 17, 1957.↩
  4. Printed from a copy that bears this typed signature.↩