Office of the Historian

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

Washington, September 3, 1958.

SUBJECT

  • Results of Sihanouk’s Trip to Communist China2

For Secretary’s Staff Meeting3

Ambassador Strom has reported in Phnom Penh’s 302, September 3,4 on a talk with Sihanouk following his return from Communist China:

Sihanouk said the CHICOMs had offered both military aid and additional economic aid. He told the CHICOMs he was satisfied with present military aid from the U.S. and France, and could not accept [Page 250] such aid from both sides. He accepted an offer equivalent to $5.6 million for additional economic aid. (Added to existing economic aid of $22.4 million, CHICOM aid to Cambodia will total $28 million.)

Sihanouk told Strom no changes in Cambodian policy would result from the visit to Communist China. Strom remarked, however, that Cambodia’s announcement of support for admission of Red China to the UN represented a change.

Sihanouk said he talked to Chou En-lai about relations with the U.S. Chou said there is no basic reason for antagonism and the only real problem is Taiwan. Sihanouk implied that he intended to discuss this conversation when he comes to Washington.5

Sihanouk expressed a desire for early liquidation of the border marker problem with Viet-Nam, preferably before he leaves for the UNGA on September 8. He added other problems could be discussed leisurely over several months or a year. (Comment: The GVN has offered to remove the marker if the local RKG military commander will consent thereto and witness its removal. The GVN has also offered to take part in a joint commission with the RKG to work out the exact location of the marker.6 The next move, therefore, seems to be up to Cambodia.)

  1. Source: Department of State, FE/SEA (Cambodia) Files: Lot 63 D 73, Sihanouk Visit to U.S., 22.2, 1958. Confidential. Drafted by Mendenhall.↩
  2. Sihanouk made an extended visit to China August 14–27, where he met with Mao Tse-tung for 6 hours on August 15 and 16 and with Chou En-lai beginning on August 17 and continuing throughout the rest of his visit. In addition, Sihanouk visited India August 11–12, where he met with Prime Minister Nehru, and Burma on August 13, where he talked with Prime Minister U Nu. Summary reports of Sihanouk’s trips to India and Burma are in despatches 278 from New Delhi, September 2, and 106 from Rangoon, August 21. (Ibid., Central Files, 033.51H91/9–258 and 033.51H90B/8–2158, respectively) Documentation on U.S. interest in the Sihanouk trip to China is ibid., Central Files 793.02 and 751H.11.↩
  3. According to the notes of the Secretary’s Staff Meetings for early September, Sihanouk’s visit to China was never discussed. (Ibid., Secretary’s Staff Meetings: Lot 63 D 75)↩
  4. Not printed. (Ibid., Central Files, 751H.11/9–358)↩
  5. Apparent reference to an offer of mediation by Sihanouk to settle the off-shore islands confrontation between the United States and the People’s Republic of China.↩
  6. Reported in telegram 337 from Saigon, August 24. (Department of State, Central Files, 751G.11/8–2458)↩