119. Editorial Note
Prince Sihanouk visited Saigon August 3–5 for a series of private conversations with President Ngo Dinh Diem. Cambodian political, financial, and military advisers to Sihanouk also held discussions with their Vietnamese counterparts. The discussions were “private” and covered the range of Cambodian-South Vietnamese problems. In their discussions with U.S. representatives, Cambodian and South Vietnamese officials stressed the cordial nature of the meetings and the apparent success of the rapprochement.
In an August 13 memorandum to Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs J. Graham Parsons, the Director of the Office of Southeast Asian Affairs, Daniel V. Anderson, stated that the visit was an important step toward improved relations between the two countries, a major objective of U.S. policy. Still, Anderson warned, the future was uncertain and South Vietnamese-Cambodian relations could easily deteriorate. Anderson recommended that the United States not attempt to press its advantage in Cambodia for the time being to avoid a swing to the left by Sihanouk, that it allow Cambodia itself to deal with the problem of Communist subversion, that the United States react moderately to expected Cambodian “compensatory” gestures toward the Sino-Soviet bloc, that Sihanouk be ostensibly taken into U.S. confidence about major developments in the area, and that the United States approach the South Vietnamese on Khmer dissidents’ activities. Anderson stated that while he was suggesting “laying off” the Cambodians in the political sphere, he recommended trying to make headway on matters of economic reform. (Department of State, FE/SEA (Cambodia) Files: Lot 63 D 73, U.S.-Cambodian Relations; included in the microfiche supplement) These recommendations were sent as guidelines to the Embassy in Phnom Penh. (Telegram 153 to Phnom Penh, August 21; Department of State, Central Files, 611.51H/8–1059; included in the microfiche supplement)
On the question of concern over clandestine radio attacks on Sihanouk by Diem, Alfred leS. Jenkins of the Office of Southeast Asian Affairs sent Parsons a memorandum on July 8, which reviewed the [Page 330] issue and suggested that the United States attempt to locate the transmitter for possible use in a démarche to Diem. (Department of State, Central Files, 751H.11/7–859; included in the microfiche supplement)