Word: sihanouk
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Dates: during 1950-1959
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Cambodia. Still the most neutralist of all Southeast Asian nations, Cambodia accepts aid missions from the U.S., Russia, Red China and France. Its leader, Prince Sihanouk, is involved in continual quarrels with his ancient rivals and neighbors, Thailand and South Viet Nam; he is a man of unpredictable temperament, highly excitable and stubborn. As a result of a visit to the U.S. last September, Sihanouk is now impressed with everything American, from soda fountains to military air bases, and believes the U.S. now understands him better too. U.S. diplomacy here, as in Laos and Thailand, has recently shown greater sophistication...
...When Sihanouk visited Red China last August, he was similarly impressed with Communist drive, dedication and determination. While he rules, Cambodia must be regarded as uncertain; but the barometer is currently set fair...
...prince's mind? For centuries Cambodia, heir of the lost civilization of Khmer, has had to fight off incursions from its close neighbors-Viet Nam, Thailand, Burma. Two months ago a Viet Nam battalion occupied three Cambodian border villages, after having previously imprisoned a number of Cambodian peasants. Sihanouk appeared to think invasion was imminent...
...appealed to the U.S. for aid, threatening that if it was not forthcoming, Cambodia would use "all means at its disposal, political or otherwise, to achieve respect for its national integrity." When the U.S. supplied him only with soothing words, Sihanouk rushed to embrace Red China, announcing the news as he and his Cabinet, in a typical Mao stunt, posed working in the fields to show the common touch...
...outflank his nation and give the Communist Chinese access to the Gulf of Siam. Diem rushed his brother Ngo Dinh Nhu to the Cambodian capital of Pnompenh to negotiate a settlement of the border question, and the Cambodian radio announced that terms had been discussed in a "relaxed atmosphere." Sihanouk promised, as soon as he returns from his current junket to Peking, to pay a visit to President Diem in Saigon...