Editorial Note
Ambassador Robert McClintock delivered the following note from President Eisenhower to King Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia on October 2, 1954, on the occasion of the presentation by the Ambassador of his credentials:
“Your Majesty:
“The people of the United States have watched with concern and admiration the struggle of Cambodia against unwarranted Communist aggression. The United States is happy that Cambodia has reaffirmed its independence and that your Kingdom is in a position now to undertake a course which will secure that sovereign freedom for which your people fought.
“At this time when Cambodia has so convincingly demonstrated its independence and its stern determination to maintain that independence. I desire Your Majesty to know that my Government will be pleased to consider ways in which our two countries can more effectively cooperate in the joint task of stemming the threats facing your territories and maintaining peace and prosperity in your Kingdom.
“With assurances of my personal esteem and high regard,
“Sincerely, Dwight D. Eisenhower” (Presidential Correspondence, lot 66 D 204)
This message, drafted in the Department of State, was transmitted to the President by Acting Secretary Smith on September 23; for the memorandum of transmittal, see page 2053. Having been approved by the President on September 24, it was sent to Phnom Penh in telegram 74 of September 29.(751H.11/9–2954)
The President’s message was published in the Department of State Bulletin of October 25, 1954 (page 615), as was a White House announcement, also dated October 2, which reported the presentation by the Ambassador of his credentials and indicated that henceforth [Page 2115] United States budgetary aid for the Cambodian armed forces would be provided directly.
In telegram 136 from Phnom Penh, October 4, McClintock reported that Prime Minister Penn Nouth had expressed gratification over the letter from President Eisenhower to the King, and was highly pleased by a French translation, provided by McClintock, of the White House Press Release of October 2. The Ambassador had told Penn Nouth that the objective of American aid was to maintain Cambodia as a free and sovereign state, and that aid must be compensated by a high standard of performance. (751H.5 MSP/10–454)