Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964–1968, Volume XXVII, Mainland Southeast Asia; Regional Affairs

144. Memorandum of Conversation¹

Washington, August 12, 1964.

SUBJECT

• [less than 1 line of source text not declassified] Correspondence with Prince Sihanouk

PARTICIPANTS

• William P. Bundy, Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of Far Eastern Affairs
• [name deleted]
• [name deleted]
• Charlotte W. Peters, Cambodian Desk Officer

[less than 1 line of source text not declassified] opened the discussion with a brief background on the project, adding that [1 line of source text not declassified] has been well received by the Prince. [less than 1 line of source text not declassified] further stated that in the current situation an optional channel of communication with the Prince appears to be more and more useful; [less than 1 line of source text not declassified] activities will be under the control and direction of the Department of State.

The discussion focused on the proposed letter from [less than 1 line of source text not declassified] to Prince Sihanouk.² [less than 1 line of source text not declassified] said they would especially like [less than 1 line of source text not declassified] to be able to say that he had talked to Mr. Bundy. Mr. Bundy mentioned the memorandum from Mr. Trueheart dated July 30, 1964,³ stating that he would like the points in it incorporated in the letter; he cautioned that the tone should not sound like a démarche. [less than 1 line of source text not declassified] repeated Sihanoukʼs comment to him that [less than 1 line of source text not declassified] is the only American who understands the Prince.

Mr. Bundy asked [less than 1 line of source text not declassified] opinion on Sihanoukʼs view of Communist China. [less than 1 line of source text not declassified] replied that Sihanouk looks upon Peiping as his friend, the only one he can really count on. Since he feels he cannot get border guarantees from South Vietnam, he will get them from Peiping at whatever price he has to pay, in spite of Peipingʼs failure to be forthcoming in the past. [less than 1 line of source text not declassified] mentioned the report that while in Djakarta August 17 Sihanouk may sign a treaty with North Vietnam, the Pathet Lao and the Chinese to guarantee Cambodian borders. He commented that although the Chinese have backed off before, Sihanouk continues to press for the treaty. Mr. Bundy added that at this point the State Department has little power of suasion with the Indonesians.

At the close of the discussion [less than 1 line of source text not declassified] stated that they will begin drafting the letter to Sihanouk. The question was raised as to whether or not the letter should be drafted in the anticipation that it may be made public. Although Sihanouk has not published any previous correspondence with [less than 1 line of source text not declassified] this will be the first time [less than 1 line of source text not declassified] will say that he has been in contact with the State Department. With this in mind the letter should be consistent with our public statements.

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL CAMB–VIET S. Secret. Drafted by Peters and seen by Bundy.
2. Not found.
3. Document 142.