396.1 GE/4–2554: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Department of State
[Received 6:55 p.m.]
Secto 3. Repeated information Paris 109, Saigon 1, Phnom Penh 1. Your 3 repeated Paris 3835, Saigon 2974, Phnom Penh 63.1 Please inform Cambodian Ambassador orally of Secretary’s gratification at willingness of Cambodian Government to commit itself to united action in present circumstances. With reference to Cambodian conditions, Department should explain to Ambassador in informal manner that any “condition” of participation can only be passed on by entire group and not only by US. Specifically, Department is, of course, in agreement as to independent status of Cambodia and trusts forthcoming Franco-Cambodian negotiations will be successful. So far as military aid for Cambodia is concerned, Department believes objective at this time should be effective delivery and use of aid. As was indicated to Cambodian authorities by Ambassador Heath, question of logistic organization of Cambodian army is an important factor. Heath believes, however, that in coordination with French who are furnishing both arms and budget support to Cambodians, some arrangement might be worked out eventually. US has already contributed to making available large amount of military equipment to Cambodian [Page 1406] armed forces. With regard to possible future military action, it would seem premature to make any commitment other than to state that arrangements envisaged for command, etc., would reflect collective agreement and not dictation by any one member of group. Please tell Cambodian Ambassador on behalf of Secretary that in present critical circumstances, every demonstration of Cambodian determination to repel invaders and to clear country of Communist aggressors would be most welcome indication Cambodian solidarity with united action concept.2
- The reference telegram, Tedul 3 to Geneva, Apr. 24, not printed, informed Secretary Dulles that the Cambodian Ambassador (Nong Kimny) had indicated that Cambodia was prepared to subscribe to a common declaration regarding united action in Southeast Asia under the following conditions: 1) Cambodia would participate as an independent state on equal footing with others; 2) military aid for Cambodia would be given directly rather than through the French; 3) in the event of the internationalization of military action, coordination would be the responsibility of a joint staff of participating countries with a Commander in Chief chosen by them. (110.11 DU/4–2454) The Cambodian Government expressed substantially the same position in a confidential note transmitted to the U.S. Embassy at Phnom Penh on Apr. 30. The Embassy’s translation of the principal portion of the note was sent to the Department in telegram 132 from Phnom Penh, May 3. (110.11 DU/5–354)↩
- Acting Assistant Secretary Drumright informed Ambassador Nong Kimny of the Secretary’s views in a conversation of Apr. 26; the memorandum of that conversation, by Day of PSA, is in file 751H.00/4–2654.↩