Office of the Historian

111. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Cambodia1

Washington, March 3, 1964, 8:10 p.m.

601. Phnom Penh tels 870–875.2 Sihanoukʼs draft proposals, which are under study in Dept, obviously contain many unacceptable elements including ultimatum aspect as well as so-called “gentlemenʼs agreement” plus numerous objectionable clauses in proposed declarations and protocol. While documents are under study we believe it is essential that our own suggested draft agreements (Deptel 586)3 be immediately made available to RKG. This is necessary for several reasons:

1)
To prepare our position against probable future publication by Sihanouk of RKG drafts;
2)
To advance for consideration our own concept of a satisfactory agreement;
3)
To establish a basis for negotiation if a conference should occur;
4)
To test Sihanoukʼs willingness to negotiate;
5)
Prompt delivery is essential in order to emphasize that our drafts were prepared independently and not as a reply to the Cambodian drafts.

Therefore you should immediately forward copies of US drafts to RKG FonOff under cover of note, operative portion of which to read as follows:

“Upon instructions of the Department of State, I have the honor to submit copies of draft documents which the United States Government would propose for consideration along with other proposals and drafts which may be discussed at a quadripartite conference.” Do not ask the RKG to comment on these drafts.

Certain modification are being incorporated in drafts, including some points suggested by the Thai. Modifications being cabled shortly as well as French translation.

The Embassy reported in telegram 870 from Phnom Penh, March 4, that it had delivered the U.S. drafts. (Ibid.)4

Rusk
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 27–13 CAMB. Confidential; Immediate. Drafted by Hannah, cleared by Johnson and Harriman, and approved by Hilsman. Repeated to Bangkok, Saigon, Kuala Lumpur, London, Paris, Vientiane, and CINCPAC.↩
  2. See footnote 3, Document 110.↩
  3. Dated February 28. (Department of State, Central Files, POL 27–13 CAMB)↩
  4. Inform Dept as soon as you have delivered drafts to FonOff.↩