France Supports Cambodia In U.N.

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30451, 27 May 1964, Page 17

France Supports Cambodia In U.N.

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyrights NEW YORK, May 26. France deepened the Western split over Southeast Asia, in the United Nations today, by supporting Cambodia’s charge of aggression against the United States and South Vietnam.

“It would not be possible for us to refuse to give satisfaction to the Cambodian Government when it expresses the desire that the Security Council affirm that it deplores the incidents which have occurred and the loss of human lives,” said the French Ambassador (Mr R. Seydoux). Mr Seydoux made no reference to a denial by the United States, after investigation, that any Americans participated in two raids into Cambodia during the first week in May. The raids by Vietnamese forces are the basis of Cambodia's aggression charge. Mr Seydoux urged the council to call a new conference on Cambodia, a proposal already rejected by the United States. Mr Seydoux said France preferred to leave patrolling of the Vietnamese-Cambodian frontier to the International Control Commission—comprising Poland, Canada and France—rather than create a United Nations force for the task in a “slow, arduous and costly” process. The United States has objected to the composition of the commission which requires unanimous agreement on all decisions. This gives Poland a Communist veto over I operations, the United States! says.

In Washington yesterday President Johnson reviewed the military pressure by Com-munist-led guerrillas in Laos and South Vietnam at a White House meeting today with Mr Konthi Suphamongkhon, sec-retary-general of the Southeast Asia Treaty Organisation. Mr Konthi later said he did not feel there was an immediate requirement for the dispatch of United States troops to Thailand as a warning to the guerrillas who have been J advancing against Neutralist [troops in the Plain of Jars in Laos. I He recalled that in 1962 the .United States sent troops to ; Thailand at the request of the Thai Government. Mr Konthi is making a tour of S.E.A.T.O. countries. Asked about the general situation in South-east Asia, he said that “if we put up a firm stand, like President Johnson has been doing, to the world, then the situation will improve.” The American State Department yesterday supported Prince Souvanna Phouma, the

neutralist Laotian Prime Minister, in his demand that Communist forces give up their latest military gains in northern Laos. It said the United States fully shares the Prime Minister’s view that there would be no benefit in reconvening a 14-nation Geneva Conference on Laos unless it was preceded by an effective cease-fire and a withdrawal by the Pathet Lap Communist units. The department spokesman told a news conference that unarmed United States aircraft were still continuing their reconnaissance flights over Communist-held positions in the Plain of Jars area. The flights were begun last week at the request of Prince Souvanna Phouma. Diplomats in Vientiane believe Pathet Lao reaction to the withdrawal demand will depend on that of China and North Vietnam—the main supporters of the Pathet Lao over the last two years after the ’signing of the Geneva agreement making Laos neutral. Russia, China and North Vietnam are reported in favour of another international conference on Laos. Many Western diplomats in Vientiane regard Prince Souvanna’s conditions as reasonable, and placing the Pathet Lao in a difficult position in world opinion.