197. Telegram From the Embassy in the Philippines to the Department of State1

4791. Ref Bangkok 5507.2

1.
I spoke to President Marcos today about his aide-memoire on Cambodia addressed to President Johnson and he confirmed (Manilaʼs 4431)3 that he had received a verbal message from Prince Sihanouk through Phil Ambassador in Phnom Penh stating Sihanoukʼs desire to normalize relations with U.S. message asked Marcos to discuss matter with President Johnson but said that if anything leaked out he, Sihanouk, would deny making any overtures.
2.
Marcos says he believes that U.S. should convey to Sihanouk through Marcos its regret over alleged mistake bombings and offer to send them team to investigate. Repeat this is Marcosʼs idea and not Sihanoukʼs. Marcos further suggested that investigating team once in Cambodia would be able to check on North Vietnamese and Viet Cong hostile establishments for actions inside Cambodian territory.
3.
All this seems rather far fetched to us and I conveyed to Marcos Secretaryʼs comments on Sihanouk (Manilaʼs 4431). However, Marcos told me he hopes to serve as intermediary between U.S. and Cambodia just as he claims he did between Malaysia and Indonesia. Once Marcos receives message from us to Sihanouk that we regret the bombings he will transmit it through his Ambassador in Phnom Penh and will then await Sihanoukʼs reaction to our further expression of willingness to send investigating team. If Sihanouk agrees, Marcos would then announce here our regrets and Sihanoukʼs willingness to accept investigating team.
4.
I understand Cambodian Charge to Manila was called back suddenly to Phnom Penh on October 27th, the day of President Johnsonʼs departure.
5.
Will respond to your query on Johnson-Marcos communiqué U.S. state visit in septel.4
Blair
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 VIET S. Top Secret; Immediate; Nodis. Repeated to Seoul eyes only for Secretary from Ambassador Blair. There was no time of dispatch on the source text, which was received at the Department of State at 2:07 a.m., October 31.
  2. In telegram 5507, October 28, the Embassy reported that it had received a “cryptic ʼaide-memoireʼ” from President Marcos to President Johnson, October 27, which is described in paragraph 1 below. (Ibid.)
  3. Dated October 22. (Ibid., POL CAMB–US)
  4. Not further identified.