751H.13/11–1553: Telegram
The Chargé at Phnom Penh (Montllor) to the Department of State
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55. Sent Saigon 104, repeated information priority Department 55, priority Paris 45. King Sihanouk this afternoon withdrew as president Council Ministers and simultaneously dismissed entire Cabinet after he had received resignations from Prime Minister Penn Nouth, Minister [Page 865] Defense Simvar, Minister Public Works Tioulong, Minister Education Samsary. Foreign Minister Sirik Matak’s resignation had been pending since Prime Minister’s neutralist declaration of September. King called together leaders of political parties and religious leaders for two hour conference this afternoon to tell them that he would soon appoint a new Cabinet charged with the responsibility of organizing elections for new National Assembly and return to constitutional government, such elections to take place within five months. While many political leaders would like to see King head new Cabinet, he had not made known his decision in this respect. Parties are being asked to submit candidates for new National Union Cabinet, and it is unlikely that the Cabinet will be formed in less than a week or ten days because of succession of holidays next week. In meantime outgoing Cabinet will remain at posts.
Official explanation for mass resignations is that tasks of outgoing Cabinet ended with completion of military negotiations with France. Immediate cause of Penn Nouth resignation was resentment at King’s strong criticism of lengthy parade of volunteers November 9. But rivalries were also apparently building up in Cabinet as different blocs were readying for coming struggle for political ascendancy. Thus we are witnessing fulfillment of prediction that when King had finally settled differences with France he would face great internal problems.