147. Memorandum of a Conference With the President, Waldorf Astoria Hotel, New York, September 27, 1960, 10:45–11:08 a.m.1
OTHERS PRESENT
- Prince Sihanouk
- Ambassador Kimny
- Secretary Herter
- Assistant Secretary Steeves
- Mr. E.S. Glenn (State Dept.)
- Colonel Eisenhower
The President opened by thanking Prince Sihanouk for his recent letter of September 3rd.2 He hoped that our good relations would be improved. He promised that the U.S. would consider sympathetically within our limitations the requests for military aid in the letter.
Prince Sihanouk emphasized that the Cambodian request had been directed only toward modernization of his armed force, not an increase in size. Cambodia’s policy is one of peace. However, at the [Page 383] present moment there is a marked infiltration of hostile elements across the Cambodian border, One of these elements consists of rebels who have been fighting the authorities in South Viet-Nam. Cambodia must protect herself against these elements. This protection is done with the blessing of Saigon, which has requested Cambodia to be more energetic in rounding up these rebels. What Cambodia needs primarily is some airplanes and transportation to make their force more effective. The President said that our people will study the Cambodia bill of particulars with sympathy. He stressed that we sometimes find difficulty in meeting requests for arms aid. We appreciate the Cambodian situation and approve of what they are doing and support it.
Prince Sihanouk said he understands American problems completely. He does not ask an inordinate amount of aid for the size of his country. He pointed out, however, that the Kingdom of Laos, which is one-half the size of Cambodia, gets more military aid. The President expressed surprise at this statement and remarked that the situation in Laos is so unsettled that it is difficult to figure out our next move.
The President then stressed the importance of the UN to the smaller nations as a means of preventing large-power domination. He referred to the quarrel transpiring in the UN General Assembly at this time regarding the efficiency of the UN as a body and said that neutral as well as Western nations must support the UN. Prince Sihanouk expressed complete agreement and said that his speech will be along the policies outlined by the President, stressing the importance of the UN. He agreed that the UN is the best guarantee of the security of small nations and stated his disagreement with Khrushchev’s proposal to substitute a three-man group for the Secretary General’s office.
The President said that Khrushchev apparently is trying to make a small security council out of his proposed three-man committee, thereby introducing veto power in the UN Executive. The Prince agreed and said this would be inefficient and unflattering to the UN, since it would admit the lack of unity in that body.
The President took issue with Khrushchev’s accusation of Hammarskjold that the latter is a tool of the colonial powers. He referred to Diefenbaker’s statement which blamed the Soviets as the modern-day colonials. The Prince expressed complete agreement.
The President predicted that things are going to be difficult for a while, but he hoped that later on the General Assembly can adopt a constructive approach toward world peace. With this in mind, he had spoken early himself to try to set a conciliatory atmosphere in the [Page 384] General Assembly.3 The Prince said he had been impressed by the dignity and restraint of the President’s speech, which carried the tone which should be used by Chiefs of State. The President thanked the Prince and said that his speech had been planned with the expectation of Mr. Khrushchev’s belligerent attitude. He had tried to give reason for a less violent approach. He acknowledged, however, that Khrushchev’s attack on the UN, an organization which has done so many beneficial things for the world, had been so violent as to leave the President somewhat bewildered.
The President hoped that the General Assembly will finally reach constructive discussions on disarmament. If this happens, their attitude toward this, of course, will show whether the Soviets desire to negotiate seriously. He pointed out that the Soviets can always change their tactics over night.
The Prince said he hoped that this is so. He heads a small nation and this nation can only wish. The President disagreed somewhat with this feeling and pointed out that there are two kinds of force in the world. One is the force of might; the other is spiritual and moral force. Regarding this latter type of force, small nations can be as effective in setting an example as the big nations. In this regard, the President said that Prince Sihanouk can be as effective as the President himself. The Prince expressed his delight at this idea.
In answer to a question, the Prince said he expects to remain in New York about two weeks. Secretary Herter said the speeches will take two weeks at least. Prince Sihanouk said that he expects to be out of town for four days of the next fourteen in order to visit Kent State University, which is somewhat of a sister University to one in Cambodia. Kent has provided help, including the lending of faculty members, and wishes [him?] to pay a visit.
The President said if all speeches run as long as that of Mr. Castro, all Heads of Government will be here for several months. Despite their passion for complete coverage, our TV stations finally gave up and cut off the speeches of both Khrushchev and Castro. Indeed, Castro took the first half hour to prove that he himself had been treated discourteously in New York. Actually, nothing could be further from the truth. The President pointed out the savage like deportment of the Castro group in the first hotel they entered. The President expressed his perplexity at what Castro is trying to do and said that he can understand Khrushchev better. Although Castro has acted illegally and has confiscated American property freely, the U.S. has tried to be patient and has tried to lead him to the paths of reason. [Page 385] Despite this, each succeeding speech gets worse. The result is that Castro is losing even his Latin American friends and he will soon be isolated. The President said he cannot understand any nation desiring to make itself the satellite of the Soviet Union. Perhaps Castro desires to make himself a dictator for life and Khrushchev has promised him help. He is, of course, young, being only about 33 years old.
Prince Sihanouk expressed the hope that Castro would develop wisdom with age. Secretary Herter quoted a Dutch proverb that a man of 20 who is not a socialist shows no heart and a man of 40 who is a socialist shows no head. The President said he hoped Castro did not have to live to be 40 to develop some sense. The Prince agreed enthusiastically.
The President and the Prince then retired to face the photographers.
- Source: Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, Eisenhower Diaries. Secret. Drafted by John Eisenhower and initialed by Goodpaster. Sihanouk arrived in New York from Paris on September 25 to attend the U.N. General Assembly as head of Cambodia’s delegation. A briefing memorandum for the meeting with Sihanouk, prepared in SEA for the President, September 25, is in Department of State, Central Files, 751H.11/9–2560. Another report of this conversation between Sihanouk and Eisenhower is in a memorandum of conversation by Steeves, September 27. (Ibid., 751H.11/10–660)↩
- The text of Sihanouk’s letter to Eisenhower, in response to the President’s message through Trimble, was transmitted in despatch 71 from Phnom Penh, September 12. (Ibid., 711.11–EI/9–1260) For a summary of Eisenhower’s message to Sihanouk, August 3, see footnote 3, supra.↩
- Reference is to Eisenhower’s address before the U.N. General Assembly, September 22, entitled “The Structure of True Peace,” printed in Department of State Bulletin, October 10, 1960, pp. 551–557.↩