751G.00/10–1454: Telegram
The Ambassador in Cambodia (McClintock) to the Department of State
159. Sent Saigon, Vientiane and New Delhi unnumbered. I had long talk last night with Ambassador Parthasarathi, chairman of International Control Commission. As previous telegrams from this Embassy have suggested, he seems a mixture of good intentions blended with standard Indian shibboleths re democracy, justice and communism.
Parthasarathi said his observations led him to believe that Cambodians, “Vietnamese” (by which he consistently referred to Vietminh) and what he termed the Khmer resistance movement really bore no fundamental ill will toward one another and could, if Cambodian Government rose above petty issues, easily get along as one happy family. He said he was convinced of sincerity of Vietminh and Khmer resistance leaders in insisting all they wished in Cambodia was peace and that they had no specific political ambitions. He said he felt Cambodian Government would be well advised to permit Communists to participate in elections next year, particularly since, in his judgment, total adherents in Cambodian population did not number more [Page 2141] than one million and chances of Communist success at polls were not bright.
Indian Ambassador said, speaking for himself since he had not referred this matter to his government, he was convinced International Commission had duty to see that elections were conducted according to principles of democracy and justice, although he admitted Geneva accord per se did not give specific writ for Commission to supervise elections. He based argument largely upon nine power declaration rather than Cambodian cease fire agreement.
In this final interview I did not seek to enter into debate but raised eyebrows at appropriate intervals. When Indian chairman spoke in passing of requirement for his commission to supervise introduction of war matériel into Cambodia, I said pointedly that it was relief to see Article 7 of Cambodian cease fire agreement was specific on point that Cambodian Government had right to bring in war matériel and foreign instructors to degree necessary to provide for effective defense of its territory.