Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, East Asia-Pacific Region; Cambodia; Laos, Volume XVI

158. Telegram From the Embassy in Cambodia to the Department of State¹

Phnom Penh, December 23, 1960—3 p.m.

741. Department pouch London and Paris. Reference: Embtel 621 to Department.² Following Embassy preliminary comments Sihanouk’s visit Red China to date on basis joint communiqué and summary supplementary protocols signed Peiping December 12 (released Phnom Penh December 22) and various press dispatches covering trip:

1. Negotiation treaty friendship and non-aggression envisaged since Chou En-lai visit here May and presumably corresponds with that between ChiCom and Burma. Text not yet available.³

2. ChiCom respect and full support policy peace, neutrality, independence and sovereignty followed by RKG also anticipated. Noteworthy ChiCom assurance military support case aggression by neighbors, which Chou En-lai gave in speech here, not reiterated in communiqué.

3. RKG support ChiCom admission to UN also nothing new. However Sihanouk’s praise continuing efforts ChiCom to safeguard world peace and “to support all oppressed people” hardly consistent his April 1959 criticism ChiCom action Tibet and discreet silence Indian border aggressions. Furthermore Sihanouk’s “complete sympathy” for struggle Chinese people for defense territorial integrity their country seems to imply support ChiCom claim Taiwan.

4. Mutual adherence Bandung principles in line Sihanouk’s repeated past declarations on subject.

5. Joint condemnation “acts of certain countries” designed create tension in Southeast Asia and intervention internal affairs other countries, coupled with sympathy for Lao people in their “just struggle against foreign intervention to maintain peace, neutrality, national independence and unity” obviously aimed at RTG, GVN and US, although Sihanouk presumably turned down ChiCom demand that they be specifically named. No reference to support Souvanna government in contrast Moscow communiqué. Also Sihanouk ignored Chou En-lai’s attacks on US in responding latter’s speech on occasion signing treaty friendship.

6. Like Moscow communiqué, that issued Peiping makes no allusion Sihanouk’s Laos-Cambodia neutrality belt proposal. However in speech December 19 Sihanouk called for meeting ChiCom, Soviets, US, India, Thailand, DRV, SVN and Cambodia with object of “saving Laos and peace in Southeast Asia and world.” Although theoretically evenly balanced with three participants each from East and West blocs plus two neutrals, suggested composition actually weighted against West by omission UK and France and inclusion “neutral” Cambodia.

7. Support struggle for world peace and general disarmament, including prohibition nuclear weapons, and opposition colonialism echo statements contained Moscow communiqué. On other hand, advocacy ChiCom proposal for mutual peace and non-aggression pact “among countries of Asia and on shores of Pacific” and transformation of entire area into nuclear-free zone represents new wrinkle. Similarly support peoples of Latin America, as well as of Asia and Africa, in their struggle against colonialism and to preserve national independence appears crack at US.

8. Sihanouk’s invitation Liu Shao-ch’i to visit Cambodia and latter’s acceptance follows pattern set invitation Khrushchev.

9. Increased ChiCom TC and economic aid foreseen in separate agreements signed. According reference to them in communiqué and supplementary protocols, they provide for augmented TC assistance, including development Cambodian agriculture, industry and natural resources; further equipment for expansion textile factory; soda processing plant from ChiCom and paper factory; small steel mill and machine shop (latter presumably to make simple agricultural equipment); establishment joint shipping company to operate between Chinese ports and Sihanoukville; ChiCom survey party for Phnom Penh–Sihanoukville railroad, and technicians for development rice, tea and fruit. Value additional aid fixed at roughly $11.5 million (400 million riels), probably exclusive steel mill and machine shop, although this not clear from context. Total appears substantially less than RKG had hoped to obtain.

10. Sihanouk’s agreement to establish Khmer-Chinese friendship association here in contrast RKG foot-dragging on our bi-national center project.

11. Fact neither communiqué and protocols, nor speeches, make any mention ChiCom military aid would seem indicate Sihanouk has again turned down Chinese arms offer. Nevertheless possibility cannot be excluded that this covered in secret agreements, nature of which to be announced later.

12. Although Peiping communiqué in line leftist swing by Sihanouk noted in those signed Prague and Moscow, it would appear to be less pronounced. Therefore, while obviously greatly pleased and flattered by attentions showed him Peiping and deeply impressed by his visit, Sihanouk seems to have been aware of danger going too far. Homecoming and. National Congress speeches should show whether this interpretation correct.

Trimble

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 651H.93/12–2360. Confidential. Repeated to Hong Kong, Saigon, Bangkok, Vientiane, New Delhi, and CINCPAC for POLAD.
2. See footnote 2, supra.
3. On Decembr 12, the People’s Republic of China issued a joint statement with Sihanouk, protocols on economic and technical aid, application of the 1956 Economic Aid Agreement, an agreement on navigation, and exchange of letters on Chinese technicians to Cambodia, and a Treaty of Friendship and Mutual Nonaggression. Texts are printed in Peking Review, December 20, 1960, p. 14, and December 27, 1960, p. 10.