751H.00/6–2453: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Embassy at Saigon1
2516. Cambodian Ambassador inquired June 23 about New York Times report dateline Saigon June 21 US representative Bangkok supported French position refusing deal with King on foreign territory and US Govt attitude influenced Thai Govt to demur about submitting Cambodian case UN.2 Informed him story without foundation. Ambassador [Page 619] said King would remain Battambang for present. Thinks negotiations with France can reach satisfactory conclusion after new French Government formed but devaluation piastre and absence authority previous French negotiators require fresh start. Believes would ease political tension Cambodia if new French Government would declare readiness negotiate and designate negotiator with full powers conclude agreement. Prime Minister would then proceed to Paris.
Ambassador stressed peoples desire independence and danger some incident provoking them to action endangering prospects peaceful negotiation. Disturbed over unconfirmed report press French sending African troops into Cambodia.
- Drafted by Robert E. Hoey and Henry B. Day of PSA. Repeated for information to Phnom Penh as telegram 6, to Bangkok as 2503, and Paris as 6159.↩
- The article under reference appeared in the New York Times of June 22 (p. 3). Day’s memorandum of the Day–Hoey conversation with Ambassador Nong Kimny on June 23 is in file 751H.00/6–2353.↩