Chronology of Cambodian History, 1960-1964
1960 Chronology
of Cambodian History
Abbreviations on
this page
Jan. 5, 1960
Cambodia
places
with UN her accession to the Convention On The Recognition And Enforcement Of
Foreign Arbitral Awards.
Feb. 20, 1960
Sangkum Reastr Niyum opens its Ninth National Congress. [Opening
speech]
April 2, 1960
Sihanoukville (Kompong Som) seaport is inaugurated; the inauguration ceremony
presides by Prince Sihanouk.
April 3, 1960
King Norodom Suramarit died, provoking a constitutional crisis over the
successor to the late King.
April 11, 1960
PM Prince Sihanouk presents the resignation of himself and his cabinet to the
President of the Council of Regency.
April 12, 1960
Prince Sihanouk declines the Council of Regency's invitations to form a new
government; instead he submits a list of five persons for the premiership:
Penn Nouth, San Yun, Son Sann, Nhiek Tioulong and Lon Nol.
April 16, 1960
Pho Proeung, who resigned from the Council of Regency, resolves the crisis by
accepting to form a new government.
April 19, 1960
New government of PM Pho Proeung is sworn in and received by the Council of
Regency.
May 8, 1960
PM
Pho Proeung and visiting Chinese Premier Chou En-lai issue a joint
declaration following their meeting.
May 19, 1960
Cambodia
and World Health Organization sign in Phnom Penh a basic agreement
for the provision of technical advisory assistance. Secretary of State for Health Yim Dith signed for Cambodia and
Regional Director I. C. Fang for the WHO.
June 5, 1960
A nation-wide referendum gives an overwhelming vote of confidence of Prince
Sihanouk.
June 14, 1960
Prince Sihanouk is sworn in as Cambodia's Chief of State after the 1947
constitution is revised by the National Assembly a day earlier.
July 15, 1960
Cambodia
and United States exchange notes
constituting an agreement relating to the exchange of official publication.
Sept. 30, 1960
The Khmer Communist party convenes its secret congress, which is held at
Phnom Penh railway station; KPRP renames to the Workers' Party of Kampuchea (WPK), and Saloth Sar (Pol Pot)
becomes member of the WPK central committee.
Nov. 24, 1960
Cambodia
and UN Special Fund sign, in Phnom Penh, an agreement
concerning assistance from the Special Fund.
Phlek Chhat, Director General of Planning of the Ministry of Planning,
signed for Cambodia and Walter De Selys Longchamps, Regional Representative
of the Special Fund, for UN.
Nov. 27, 1960
Cambodia
and Czechoslovakia sign in Prague Treaty
of Friendship and Co-operation, Prince Sihanouk signs for Cambodia; and Agreement
On Cultural Co-operation, Pho Proeung signs for Cambodia.
Nov. 30, 1960
Cambodia
and UN exchange letters
constituting an agreement for the provision of operation and executive
personnel.
Dec. 12, 1960
Cambodia,
Laos, Thailand, Republic of Vietnam and Australia signed in Bangkok an agreement
concerning tax exemption of contribution of Australia for the development of
water resources of the Lower Mekong Basin.
Dec. 15, 1960
Cambodia
and Thailand exchanged letters constituting an Agreement relating to the
press and radio [5490], Agreement relating to
the joint repression of criminal offences in the frontier region [5491], Agreement relating to
rebels and political refugees [5492] and Agreement relating to
common law criminals [5493].
1961
Chronology of Cambodian History
Abbreviations on
this page
Jan. 3, 1961
Cambodia
places
with UN her acceptance of the Convention On The Intergovernmental Maritime
Consultative Organization.
Jan. 28, 1961
Penn
Nouth becomes Prime Minister (01/28/1961-11/17/61).
May 26, 1961
International Court of Justice ruled unanimously that it had jurisdiction
over the case concerning the Temple of Preah Vihear, which Cambodia submitted
to the Court on Sept. 30, 1959. Thailand, occupying the Temple since 1954,
argued that the Court had no jurisdiction over the case. [Text
of the Judgment]
Sept. 1961
Armed clashes between Khmer army and Vietnamese Communists inside Cambodia.
Oct. 23, 1961
Cambodia severs diplomatic relations with Thailand again.
Nov. 17, 1961
Prince
Norodom Sihanouk becomes Prime Minister (11/17/1961-02/13/1962).
1962
Chronology of Cambodian History
Abbreviations on
this page
Jan. 1962
First U.S. bombs felt on Cambodia. The bombing was targeted at Vietnamese
Communists in the border area.
Feb. 13, 1962
Nhiek
Tioulong becomes acting Prime Minister (02/13/1962-08/06/1962)
April 4, 1962
Cambodia
places
with UN her ratification of the Convention And Protocol For The Protection Of
Cultural Property In The Event Of Armed Conflict.
June 15, 1962
International Court of Justice, by nine votes to three, found that the Temple
of Preah Vihear situated in Cambodia, and that Thailand under an obligation
to withdraw any military, police forces, guards or other keepers stationed at
the temple, or in its vicinity on Cambodian territory. By seven votes to
five, the Court found that Thailand under an obligation to return to Cambodia
any sculptures, stelae, fragments of monuments, sandstone model and ancient
pottery which might had been removed from the Temple or the Temple area by
the Thai authorities since its occupation in 1954. [Text
of the Judgment]
Aug. 6, 1962
Chau
Sen becomes Prime Minister (08/06/62-10/06/62).
Oct. 6, 1962
Prince
Norodom Kantol becomes Prime Minister (10/06/62-10/25/66).
Nov. 19, 1962
Prince Sihanouk formally requested various countries to recognize Cambodia's
independence, neutrality and territorial integrity.
1963
Chronology of Cambodian History
Abbreviations on
this page
Jan., 1963
Cambodia's banking and foreign trade was nationalized.
Feb. 1963
Sarloth Sar (Pol Pot) became Cambodian communist party general secretary
after the mysterious disappearance of his predecessor Tou Samouth. Tou
Samouth disappeared in July 1962.
Feb. 11, 1963
Cambodia
places
with UN her accession to Customs Convention Concerning Facilities for the
Importation of Goods for Display or Use at Exhibitions, Fairs, Meetings or
Similar Events.
Feb. 20, 1963
Cambodia
places
with UN her accession to Customs Convention on the Temporary Importation of
Packing.
May 1, 1963
The
PRC Pres. Liu Shao-Chi visits Cambodia.
May 5, 1963
A Sino-Khmer Declaration of Friendship is signed between Communist Chinese
chief of state Liu Shao-chi and Prince Norodom Sihanouk.
June 14, 1963
Prince Sihanouk, Cambodia Chief of State, sent telegram to U.S. President
John Kennedy, appealing for his intervention to stop the South Vietnamese's
brutal suppression of the Cambodian Buddhist in Vietnam nonviolent protests.
June 18, 1963
US President Kennedy responded to Prince Sihanouk’s telegram.
Aug. 27, 1963
Cambodia broke off diplomatic ties with South Vietnam citing the Diem's
regime border violation, persecution of Buddhists, and discrimination against
Cambodian minorities in the Mekong Delta.
Oct. 18, 1963
Cambodia,
Laos, Thailand and Republic of Vietnam sign an agreement
with Netherlands concerning the Netherlands’ contribution to the Committee
for the Co-ordination of Investigations of the Lower Mekong Basin.
Nov. 6, 1963
Cambodia
places
with UN her accession to the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of
the United Nations.
Nov. 20, 1963
The
National Congress of the Sangkum Reash Niyum votes unanimously not to accept
US aid.
Nov. 21, 1963
Prince Sihanouk ends U.S. military-economic assistance.
Dec. 1963
Cambodia receives People's Republic of China military assistance.
1964
Chronology of Cambodian History
Abbreviations on
this page
Jan. 6, 1964
France offers Cambodia military supplies to help defend her neutrality.
Jan. 15, 1964
Cambodia
and France sign an agreement
relating to air transportation in Paris. PM Pho Proeung signed for Cambodia
and Augustin Jordan for France.
Jan. 24, 1964
Bristish Amb. call on Secretary of State Rusk to discuss
the differences between his country and the U.S. on handling the Soviet
proposal for a conference on Cambodia neutrality. [Memo of
Conversation]
Jan. 31, 1964
French President Charles de Gaulle, at the press conference, proposed the
neutralization of Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam in cooperation with Communist
China.
Feb. 4, 1964
Amb.
Sprouse suggests the State Dept. to “give serious consideration our going on
record with Sihanouk through UK as one of co-Chairmen by expressing
willingness to accept drafts as they stand, thus obviating need for
conference if other concerned countries agree.” [21]
Feb. 8, 1964
Prince Sihanouk charges the US with "great responsibility" for the
South Vietnamese attack on a Cambodian village on Feb. 4, and asks the US to
finance truce observation posts along the Cambodian-South Vietnamese border.
US State Dept. response
to Sprouse’s suggestion concerning the propose conference on Cambodian
neutrality.
Feb. 11, 1964
Prince Sihanouk proposed an international conference to guarantee Cambodia's
neutrality.
Feb. 13, 1964
Prince Sihanouk warned that if the US does not agree to an international
conference by May, he would sever diplomatic relations with Washington and
possibly sign assistance agreements with "certain great friendly
countries."
Feb. 19, 1964
US Emb. in Phnom Penh inform
Washington of Sihanouk’s new proposal.
Prince Sihanouk proposes a quadripartite (US, SVN, Thailand, and
Cambodia) negotiations which lead to an agreement recognizing Cambodia’s
neutrality and borders without a conference; and Cambodia would observe
strict neutrality and prevent the passage or presence of rebel across or on
its territory.
March 2, 1964
US inform Cambodia of its acceptance in principle to
attend a Quadripartite Conference on Cambodian neutrality. [21]
March 3, 1964
US National Security Council Staff Michael V. Forrestal sends
memo to the President's Special Assistant for National Security Affairs
(Bundy), “…..We told
the Cambodians privately yesterday that in principle we agreed to attend a
Quadripartite (Thailand-Vietnam-U.S.-Cambodia) Conference on Cambodian
neutrality. The GVN has already agreed to do so publicly, and the Thais have
said that, although they haven't been asked officially, they would give
sympathetic consideration to the idea. Today telegrams are coming in from
Phnom Penh reporting Sprouse's meeting with the Cambodian Foreign Minister,
at which time the latter turned over to Sprouse a pile of Cambodian draft
proposals for a neutrality declaration and protocol. Unfortunately, our
drafts have only been given to the GVN and the Thais; so we have been caught
flat-footed on two counts. We have made no public announcement of our
agreement to the Quadripartite Conference, and Sihanouk has beaten us to the
punch on the draft proposals. Hilsman thinks we should defer any further
public statements until we have had a chance to examine the Cambodian
package…” On the same day,
State Dept. instructs
its embassy in Phnom Penh to submit copies of draft documents to the
Government of Cambodia.
March 4, 1964
US Embassy in Phnom Penh informs
State Dept. of its delivery of draft document and wait for Prince Sihanouk’s
reaction.
March 5, 1964
Prince Sihanouk, in a speech, charges that the US blamed
Cambodia and North Vietnam for its defeat in South Vietnam, but because of
Chinese Communist strength, dared not strike Hanoi, so instead devised a plan
to invade Cambodia with Khmer Serei and South Vietnamese forces. [21]
March 9, 1964
US Ambassador to Laos Unger telegram
Dept. of State concerning his meeting with Laos PM Souvanna, who had met with
Prince Sihanouk.
March 10, 1964
Secretary Rusk instructs
US Embassy in Bangkok to approach Thai leader in order to exploit the
opportunity following Prince Sihanouk’s negative reaction to US
proposal. Earlier, Sihanouk disagreed
with US draft proposals for a 4-power conference and saw them as a rejection
of his own proposals for the quadripartite conference on Cambodia neutrality.
March 11, 1964
Anti-U.S. and British demonstrators damaged the U.S. and British Embassies in
Phnom Penh. The mobs hurled rocks, stormed through police barriers, rushed
into the ground floor of the U.S. embassy and wrecked it. Demonstrators
outside the building tore down the American flag, burnt it and raised the
Cambodian flag. The British embassy, which was near by, was attacked by the
demonstrators, and its ground floor was badly damaged. The mobs also sacked
the British Council and Information buildings.
US Amb. Spivack informs
State Dept. of heavy demonstration and rock throwing against US Embassy in
Phnom Penh. Secretary Rusk informs Cambodian Secretary of State for Foreign
Affair, Huot Sambath, of his shock and concern over the attacks and reminds
the Minister that US draft proposals for the 4-power conference are not
intended as a substitute for those of Cambodia, and asks for assurance that
American lives and property could be protected in Cambodia.
March 13, 1964
Cambodia military delegation authorized to make arms purchases arrived in
Peking, China.
Amb. Spivack telegrams
to the State Dept. stating that the March 11 attacks on US and Brit.
embassies was approved by Cambodian Government in advance.
March 14, 1964
US National Security Council Staff sends memo to Bundy, “Sihanouk has accused the
US of sabotaging his proposed 4-nation conference. He has also said that we
have been trying to kill a reconvening of the Geneva Conference. Sihanouk has sent a mission to Hanoi to
discuss South Vietnamese frontiers and supposedly is going to agree to
establish diplomatic relation with North VN.
The destructive rioting of March 11 from all indications was clearly
sanctioned by the Cambodian Government and probably was carried out in order
to impress Peking and Hanoi. At
present there seems to be some confusion at the Dept. as to what they should
do next. Rusk is alleged to have said
in an informal conversation last night that perhaps we should have a
conference on Cambodian neutrality with either the 1954 or the 1962
participants. Harriman, on the other
hand, is reported to be inclined to call in the Cambodians and express
displeasure as only he can do it.” [21]
March 16, 1964
An arms shipment was delivered to Cambodia, and accepted at Cambodia's
international airport by Prince Sihanouk.
State Dept. telegram
to US Embassy in Phnom Penh concerning Secretary Rusk’s conversation with
departing Cambodian Amb. to the US Nong Kimny.
March 20, 1964
Cambodia accused the U.S. and South Vietnam of the attacking Cambodian border
village of Chantrea killing 17 villagers, which Saigon admitted that its unit
had strayed into Cambodia in pursuit of Vietcong guerrillas.
March 21, 1964
US apologizes for the Chantrea incident, which a State Department statement
attributed to faulty map reading. In referring to the downing of the L-19
observation plane during the attack, which killed a South Vietnamese and
seriously injured an American airman, the statement said Cambodian planes
might have shot it down.
South Vietnamese Premier Nguyen Khanh apologizes for the attack on Chantrea
but charges that two Cambodian fighters were responsible for the downing of
the L-19, which he claimed had crashed two and a half miles inside Vietnam.
On the contrary, South Vietnam's chief negotiator, Huyn Van Cao who was in
Phnom Penh for border talk, visited Chantrea and called the attack "a
shameful mistake" and pledge compensation.
March 22, 1964
Cambodia sends Washington a protest for the Chantrea attack and demanded
formal apology and compensation for the damages.
Prince Sihanouk visits Chantrea and declares that U.S. and Saigon apologies
alone would not save the Cambodian-South Vietnamese border talks. The Prince charged that U.S. was largely
responsible for violations of Cambodian territory and warned if the U.S.,
Britain and other interested countries did not agree by March 30 to attend an
international conference on Cambodian neutrality, he would "go to
Beijing to discuss our problems with our good Chinese friends."
State Dept. informs
the US Embassy in UK about the scheduled phone conversation between Secretary
Rusk and his Brit. counterpart over Cambodia issues.
March 23-25, 1964
Cambodia and South Vietnam formally ended their border talks, and Prince
Sihanouk reiterated his demand for an international conference. The British
government rejected a Soviet request that their two countries, as co-chairmen
of the 1954 Geneva conference on Indochina, call an international conference
on Cambodian neutrality. In a letter to Prince Sihanouk, President de Gaulle
of France promised to use his influence with the U.S. and Britain to affect
the calling of an international conference.
March 26, 1964
Amb. Spivack advises the State Dept. to study Prince
Sihanouk’s position. [Telegram]
April 2, 1964
US Pres. Johnson meets with his National Security Council
to discuss US policy towards a number of countries, including Cambodia:
“Sihanouk has made a turn-around, and, therefore, the critical situation in
Cambodia is improved. Developments
will slow down because Sihanouk is taking a vacation and visiting
France. Amb. Bohlen is seeing de
Gaulle today in an effort to persuade the General to issue a statement
clarifying French policy in SEA. The
hope is that de Gaulle would issue a statement that his support of
neutralization applies in the future and the immediate present.” [21]
April 6, 1964
Bundy sends memo to
Secretary Rusk concerning the possibility of inviting Prince Sihanouk to
visit the US.
April 12, 1964
US and France officials meet in the US Embassy in Manila
to discuss Cambodia issue. [Memo of
Conversation]
April 13, 1964
SEATO holds its Ninth Council Meeting in Manila from
04/13-15, 1964. [21]
April 16, 1964
Thomas Hughes, Director of Intelligence and Research,
sends memo
to Marshall Green, Dep. Assistant Secretary of State concerning the use of
Cambodian territory by Viet Cong.
May 15, 1964
Harlan Cleveland, Assistant Secretary of State, informs
Secretary Rusk about the UN Security Council action on Cambodian complaint.
May 21, 1964
US State Dept. telegram
Embassy in Cambodia concerning the possibilities of UN peacekeeping along
Cambodian-Vietnamese border.
May 25, 1964
US State Dept. instructs
its Mission to the UN of action to be taken at the world body regarding to
Cambodia.
May 30, 1964
Cleveland sends memo to
George W Ball, Acting Secretary of State regarding the UN Security Council
resolution on Cambodian complaint.
June 1, 1964
Prince Sihanouk departs Cambodia for a 6-week stay in
France. [21]
June 3, 1964
US Embassy in Phnom Penh telegram
the State Dept. of Sihanouk’s departure which provides occasion for broad
survey of Cambodia’s present situation and relations with the US.
June 4, 1964
Joseph Sisco, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, sends memo to
Rusk regarding Cambodia complaint in the UN Security Council.
June 12, 1964
US State Dept. instructs
its Mission to the UN of action to be taken with the world body concerning
Cambodia.
June 16, 1964
In a protest note to the UN Security Council, Cambodia charged that some 30
aircraft and helicopters of South Vietnam's forces had attacked the Cambodian
village of Tralouk Bek on June 11 about 1200 feet from the
Cambodian-Vietnamese border.
June 26, 1964
UN headquarters in New York announced that the 3-member UN commission to
investigate the Cambodian-South Vietnamese border dispute had arrived in
Cambodia. The South Vietnam Liberation Front, the political arm of Vietcong,
strongly opposed to the commission.
June 29, 1964
In an address to students of the Institute of Political Sciences in Paris,
Prince Sihanouk said Cambodia is fighting efforts by American imperialism to
force her to abandon neutralism and align with the U.S. as a satellite. The
Prince charged that since 1955 the U.S. had employed every method to dissuade
Cambodia from its neutralist path.
June 30, 1964
Bundy sends note
to William Trueheart, Director of the Office of SEA Affairs, regarding a
proposed message to convey to Prince Sihanouk.
Secretary of State Rusk sends letter
to John McCone, CIA Director, regarding their conversation about Prince
Sihanouk.
July 2, 1964
US State Dept. suggests Amb. Bohlen to use the
transmission of a greeting from Pres. Johnson thanking Prince Sihanouk for a
similar message to discuss prospects for US-Cambodian relations. [21]
July 4, 1964
US Amb. To France Bohlen telegrams
the State Dept. regarding his meeting with Prince Sihanouk a day earlier.
July 9, 1964
Randolp Kidder is appointed
Ambassador to Cambodia. Prince
Sihanouk refuses to accept his credentials. [21]
July 29, 1964
US Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs
(Bundy) sends memo to Secretary of State Rusk, "..state that it would be worthwhile to follow up on the channel to Sihanouk
which has developed and therefore suggested that he call upon you, Governor
Harriman or me and that he be authorized to report on such a meeting in a
letter to Sihanouk. Mr. McCone suggested further that in his letter to
Sihanouk could convey his "impressions" as being views derived from
this meeting and other contacts since his return to Washington. Although we
agree that might provide a useful second channel of communication, we should
avoid developing what might turn into an alternative channel of communication
outside the normal diplomatic framework. If Ambassador Kidder's mission is to
be a success, the Prince should be convicted that his contacts with
Ambassador Kidder provide the best means of contact with the US Government.
Although we see considerable merit in providing Sihanouk with an occasional
channel of communication through we do not favor the development of an
alternative channel to Ambassador Kidder. Recommendation:
1. That I see and that his contacts in the Department be confined within
the Bureau of Far Eastern Affairs. 2. If you
approve, that you sign the attached letter to Mr. McCone.” [21]
July 30, 1964
Director Trueheart memo to
Assistant Secretary Bundy about Pres. Jonhson's sending of Amb. Kidder to Cambodia
in the hope of establishing a channel of communication with Sihanouk.
US State Dept telegram
to its Embassy in Vietnam regarding UNSC Mission Report on Cambodian-South VN
border.
Aug. 12, 1964
Bundy, Charlotte Peters and
unnamed participants discuss
about ? correspondence with Prince Sihanouk.
Aug. 24, 1964
Dep. Assistant Sisco sends memo to
Secretary of State Rusk concerning the possibility of UNSC meeting on
Cambodia-Vietnam.
Aug. 30, 1964
Prince Sihanouk and the
National Assembly jointly and formally reject the finding of the report of
the UNSC Mission. [21]
Sept. 18, 1964
Amb. Kidder leaves Phnom
Penh. He is appointed Ambassador to
Cambodia on July 9, but Prince Sihanouk refuses to accept his credentials. [21]
Sept. 28, 1964
Prince Sihanouk meets with PRC
leader Mao Zedong in Beijing. [Conversation]
Oct. 20, 1964
Cambodia charges that 3 South Vietnamese planes had bombed the village of
Angong Kres, killing 8 and wounding 8 people.
Oct. 22, 1964
A South VN unit with two US
advisers clash with Vietcong across the Cambodian border near the village of
Banteay Chakrey. Three South VN soldiers and a US adviser are killed.[21] Cambodia files a
protest with the UN accusing the US of having participated in the attack.
Oct. 24, 1964
US say Cambodia shot down one
of three US C-123 aircraft that strayed into Cambodian territory, killing
eight US crewmen. [21]
Prince Sihanouk, Chief of
State, protests the attacks in a note to Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei
Gromyko and British Foreign Secretary Patrick Gordon Walker.
Oct. 27, 1964
Prince Sihanouk warns that Cambodia would sever diplomatic relations with the
U.S. and recognizes North Vietnam and the NLF (Vietcong's political arm) if
there are further U.S.-supported South Vietnamese attacks on Cambodian
territory.
South Vietnam accuses Cambodia of violating its territory, claiming that on
Oct. 25, 2 Cambodian planes had attacked its outpost 50 miles west of Saigon.
And Oct. 26, 3 Cambodian planes and 100 boatloads of troops had crossed the
border in the Kienfi Phong Province area and bombed and strafed the sector.
Oct. 31, 1964
The People's Republic of China pledges to help Cambodia in her dispute with
the U.S. and South Vietnam. The pledge was made by Chinese Premier Chou
En-lai and Head of State Liu Shao-chi in response to a plea for assistance by
Prince Sihanouk on Oct. 26.
Nov. 3, 1964
Prince Sihanouk accepts a shipment of Soviet military assistance at
Pochentong Airport. The shipment included 2 MIG-17 fighter planes, 1276
artillery pieces, 8 anti-aircraft guns and other military supplies.
Nov. 10, 1964
UN Secretary General, U Thant, announces the failure of a 2-years UN peace
mission to Cambodia and Thailand.
Nov. 15, 1964
US Department of State sends telegram
to the Embassy in Cambodia and France concerning US-Cambodian relation.
Dec. 3, 1964
US State Dept. circulates telegram
regarding to the forthcoming talks at New Delhi between Cambodian and US
representatives.
Dec. 17, 1964
US State Dept. sends telegram
to its Embassy in Cambodia concerning the outcome of Delhi talks between
Cambodian and US.
Dec. 27, 1964
Prince Sihanouk discloses that Communist China had agreed to supply Cambodia
with heavy artillery and other equipment for 22,000 troops.
Dec. 28, 1964
Jame Thomson, National Security Council Staff, sends memo to
Pres. Johnson concerning Cambodia-US relation.
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