Sihanouk Hits At Communist Allies

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31385, 2 June 1967, Page 9

Sihanouk Hits At Communist Allies

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) SAIGON, June 1. Prince Norodom Sihanouk, whose strenuous efforts to maintain Cambodia’s neutrality led him to break diplomatic relations with the United States, is now having second thoughts about his closest allies—the Communists, according to the Associated Press.

In recent speeches. Prince Sihanouk has accused the North Vietnamese and the Viet Cong of “infiltrating” Cambodia. North Vietnam had even supported an armed Communist rebellion in Battambang province in northwestern Cambodia, he said. These are the strongest anti-Communist statements ever made publicly by Prince Sihanouk, who also cast doubt on Cambodian, relations with China and the Soviet Union. He said on May 6 that although Cambodia supported Communist countries "politically and diplomatically without reservation, we cannot support certain elements among them in their efforts to neo-colonialise Cambodia and turn it into a satellite by using Communist Cambodians as their Trojan horse.”

“Our independence, our neutrality, and our territorial integrity will be defended against any enemy, be it Viet Minh or American,” be said.

Prince Sihanouk has continued his attacks on the United States and what he calls its “lackeys,” Thailand and South Vietnam. Cambodia has broken diplomatic relations with ail three countries.

He promised last week that Cambodia would “tirelessly unmask the crimes of United States, aggression in South Vietnam and in the Democratic Renublic of Vietnam (North Vietnam), for the United States is confident in its indisputable military power and, like Hitler’s Germany in the past, will remain deaf to all appeals and protests,’’ said Prince Sihanouk.

Western reporters are usually barred from Cambodia, Prince Sihanouk’s speeches were broadcast by Phnom Penh radio and monitored in Saigon.