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

79. Memorandum From the Deputy Director of the Office of Southeast Asian Affairs (Jenkins) to the Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs (Robertson)¹

Washington, August 21, 1958.

SUBJECT

• Coup Possibilities in Cambodia

Ambassador Strom reports (Telegram 239)² that any contacts with the Thais by Dap Chhuon are more in the nature of feelers and indicate no present action is planned. Other reports that we have received on the above subject seem to bear out Ambassador Strom’s report. Therefore, as stated in our memo to you on August 12,³ we remain doubtful that a serious coup effort is being planned in Cambodia.

[3 lines of source text not declassified] Dap Chhuon has been mentioned for several years as a possible leader of a coup, but [½ line of source text not declassified] he is still far from certain what course he should follow. You will recall that two years ago he was talking treason [1½ lines of source text not declassified] but shortly thereafter Dap Chhuon visited Sihanouk in France and swore loyalty to Sihanouk.

Others mentioned as possible leaders of a coup, together with our thumbnail evaluation of them, are as follows:

Lon Nol, Chief of Staff of the Cambodian armed forces, who owes his present position to Sihanouk and the Royal Family.

Sam Sary, recalled from his post as Ambassador to Great Britain in disgrace after beating a young Cambodian girl ostensibly employed as a nursemaid in Sam Sary’s household, but actually Sam Sary’s wife number three. He has little known popular support.

Yem Sambaur, former Prime Minister who retired to a job in the National Library after differences with Sihanouk. He is a good man, but with his retirement from the political scene the small following he had has diminished even further.

Prince Monireth, uncle of Sihanouk and brother of the Queen. He combines the qualities of a major in the French Foreign Legion (which he was) and an oriental despot (which he would like to have been). He is not popular in Cambodia, especially among the military.

Son Ngoc Thanh, first post-World War II prime minister and perennial dissident. For several years he was in the “bush” in Northwest Cambodia, and was finally driven into exile in Thailand. In 1954 he was a real force in Cambodia and had a considerable following, especially among the elite. Much of his following has now disappeared. He has received aid from both the Thai and Vietnamese (Tabs B and C).⁴ Sihanouk hates him intensely and considers him the number one traitor in Cambodia.

A [2 lines of source text not declassified] (Tab D).

1. Source: Department of State, FE/SEA (Cambodia) Files: Lot 63 D 73, Coup (1958) 14.5. Secret. Drafted by Price and cleared by Mendenhall and Parsons.
2. Dated August 19. (Ibid., Central Files, 751H.00W/8–1959)
3. In this memorandum to Robertson, Kocher described three reports of a possible coup in Cambodia, in which Dap Chhuon’s name appeared in all three. Kocher was doubtful that Dap Chhuon was planning a serious coup, noting that he had no following beyond the 3,000 men under his command in Siem Riep province and was extremely ill and not expected to live more than 2 years. (Ibid., FE/SEA (Cambodia) Files: Lot 63 D 73, Coup (1958) 14.5)
4. Tabs A–D not found attached and not further identified.