751H.00/1–1253: Telegram
The Ambassador at Saigon ( Heath ) to the Department of State
1378. Repeated info Paris unnumbered, Phnom Penh unnumbered. I visited Phnom Penh over week end. Incidents recounted Phnom Penh’s 34 and 35 to Department January 101 had created belief here that very serious deterioration of situation had occurred. After talks with ComRep Risterucci and General Langlade 2 and members of Cambodian Government I have considerable hope that deterioration may be temporary and succeeded by renewed gradual progress in pacification.
There is bitter fight, poorly concealed, being waged by Democratic Party leaders against King and his government. This group was unquestionably behind school strike and grenade incident recounted in Phnom Penh’s 34. Unfortunately King following the death of his daughter (see Phnom Penh’s despatch 29, January 5)3 not only went into strict mourning but to all intents and purposes practically abdicated business of government and his cabinet which is far from impressive avoided decisive action which should have been undertaken to end disorders. King seems to have been overcome by death his favorite daughter, first time tragedy has entered his life. Risterucci, however, seems entirely confident that following the mourning period which ends today, King will resume active control of government and will take severe measures against Democratic Party ringleaders who have promoted disorders in Phnom Penh.4 Hitherto King has been unwilling [Page 348] indulge in any measures of severity against this group. Yesterday King dismissed Minister of Interior for failure to handle situation.
Both Risterucci and General Langlade insisted that despite death and ambush of governor Preyveng province (Phnom Penh’s 35) very definite progress had been made in pacification. It is natural of course for both ComRep and General to maintain that they are making progress but I have definite impression that pacification and security in last few months has in fact improved and that there will be further improvement. This in large measure would seem be due to increase in auto defense units in regions hitherto controlled by Viet-Minh. More than 4,000 rifles have been distributed to such units. Langlade said that if he were able to put five more battalions immediately in field and start work immediately on eight stretches of strategically important roads (at total cost of only $150,000) he could achieve general pacification of Cambodia within eight months. However, it would take good many months to organize, equip and officer additional battalions which, Langlade insisted, must be commanded at company level by Cambodians. Therefore even if authorization to increase Cambodian Army and undertake necessary road work were immediately forthcoming it would take year and possibly year and half before pacification could be completed. One of Langlade’s early aims is to break up Viet-Minh control of pepper plantation region in south. On Chinese plantation owners the Viet-Minh have been levying tribute estimated to be between 15 to 30 million piastres a year. Langlade says he has promise of government it will support him in expelling Chinese planters convicted of having paid protection money. He believed six or eight expulsions would determine other planters to resist Viet-Minh extortion.
- Neither printed.↩
- Commander of French Union Forces in Cambodia.↩
- Not printed.↩
- On Jan. 13, the King dissolved the National Assembly and declared martial law. For the text of the King’s proclamation of Jan. 13, 1953, see L’Année Politique, 1953 (Paris, Presses Universitaires de France, 1954), pp. 570–572.↩