751H.00/9–2453: Telegram
The Ambassador at Saigon (Heath) to the Department of State
510. Repeated information Paris 153, Phnom Penh unnumbered.
Senator Mansfield1 was received yesterday by Prime Minister Penn Nouth in Phnom Penh. Atmosphere of meeting was more relaxed than [Page 810] that reported Embtel 458, repeated Paris 131, Bangkok 152 but Mansfield left no doubt in Prime Minister’s mind that he likewise felt Cambodia should join cause with all free nations in common struggle against international communism.
Much of hour-long interview was weary rehash of which comes first, hen or egg, argument, Prime Minister reiterating that Cambodia could do nothing until it was independent and Senator reiterating that independence was meaningless if it was won only to be lost to Communist attack.…
Penn Nouth sought to establish contention that Cambodia could do more in common cause if it were given direct US military aid and alleged that he could raise 30,000 men ticolots [to colors?] almost overnight if such aid were forthcoming. Senator dodged this issue, but McClintock, who was also present, later told Prime Minister privately that Cambodia was engaged in an international war, that war on free side was being waged by coalition, and that in terms of military efficiency it was but normal that one channel of supply should be chosen. Furthermore, Vietnamese new battalions had no difficulty in receiving American equipment through French channel.
Mansfield departed today for Siem Reap and will proceed tomorrow to Vientiane, thence to Hanoi, returning Saigon September 27. I am accompanying him.
- Senator Mike Mansfield of Montana, member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, visited Indochina from Sept. 21 to 29. His findings are set forth in Indochina: Report of Senator Mike Mansfield on a Study Mission to the Associated States of Indochina–Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos (83d Cong., 1st sess., Committee on Foreign Relations, U.S. Senate, Committee Print, Oct. 27, 1953).↩
- Dated Sept. 15, p. 802.↩