Office of the Historian

404. Telegram From the Ambassador in Vietnam (Durbrow) to the Embassy in Cambodia1

Saigon, November 13, 1957—1 p.m.

180. Diem reports Nehru brought up question GVN–RKG relations.2 Diem told Nehru:

1.
He had not massed troops but only maintained sufficient police and troops to try control stepped-up terrorist acts in delta area.
2.
VN has too many other problems to solve ever to think of attacking Cambodia.
3.
Frontier and dissident problem could be solved if RKG officials would cooperate with GVN officials in operations liquidate dissidents.
4.
Sihanouk doing nothing to organize effective government or for economic development.
5.
Sihanouk only playing demagogic role by inventing GVN military menace in order distract public attention from their bad economic situation.
6.
RKG not trying prevent Viet Minh elements infiltrate from north to cause trouble in VN.
7.
If nothing done to build up strong government RKG and take effective steps toward economic development in the next two years there would be successful revolution organized by Communists.

Nehru showed much interest in these reports and promised to do what he could to rectify the situation. While Diem encouraged Nehru he did not have high hopes for effective action. Details by pouch.3

Durbrow
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 033.51G91/11–1357. Confidential. Repeated for information to the Department of State, New Delhi, and Vientiane. The source text is the Department copy.↩
  2. Diem visited India November 4–9.↩
  3. In despatch 172 from Saigon, November 19 (Department of State, Central Files, 751G.11/11–1957)↩