H.M. Preah Norodom and France

Translated from Khmer by Luc Sâr

H.M. Preah Norodom and France
By N. Sihanouk

1- H.M. Preah Norodom had never launched an Appeal to France for anything. It was France, [which was] very powerful in terms of Army, which forced the Khmer Kingdom and Preah Norodom to accept the French Protectorate (1863 Treaty and 1884 Convention (an addition to the Treaty)).

2- France rendered a great service to Preah Norodom’s Cambodia. France succeeded in making the Siam [Thailand] return back to Cambodia, Battambang, Banteay Meanchey, Siemreap, Oddar Meanchey, Preah Vihear, Stung Treng, Koh Kong, some [unreadable text] etc…

3- Preah Norodom and his people did all they can to recover the National Independence. French Historians from the era, wrote books, in which they recognized the fact that H.M. Preah Norodom had secretly asked the Khmer People to lead an armed struggle against the French Colonialists, in several parts of the Khmer Kingdom.

4- In building Preah Vihear Preah Keo Morokot (Silver Pagoda), H.M. Preah Norodom, in loud voice, made the vow that one of H.M.’s offspring will succeed in fulfilling the return of the Kingdom of Cambodia to a complete Independence with territorial integrity. H.M. Preah Norodom’s vow was granted in 1953.

(Signed) Norodom Sihanouk

Beijing, January 22, 2007 at 8:30 PM