King-Father's history lesson on territorial integrity for visiting F'pec delegation (Part 3)

Click here to read the original article in French

Translated from French by Luc Sâr

History

“Monday 12 May 2008: What I said on that day to the Funcinpec Delegation regarding our territorial Integrity in the 40s and our National Independence issues”
By N. Sihanouk

(Part 3)

1946-1947-1948: During the ceremony of the presentation of solemn greetings to King N. Sihanouk of Cambodia inside the Throne room of the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh (King’s birthday). In my speech, in French, addressed to the High Commissioner of the French Republic, I did not miss to underscore that I would be willing to exchange my royal crown and my position as King against the granting of Independence by France to my Homeland. The former High Commissioner of France in Cambodia, Mr. Loubet, is the witness of this. In 1952, when French government minister Letourneau threatened to dethrone me, he did not know that his threat was vain and ridiculous.

1952-1953. If the foreign governments distrusted me who was to them “a dangerous guy”, on the other hand, the international media was very interested by my declarations in which [I said that] my People was ready to take the arms to fight the war against the colonialist French, a war to achieve total Independence of the Khmer Homeland. In this regard, I pay tribute to the great and very prestigious, the universally appreciated The New York Times which produced and published two long articles about me, about my struggle for a complete independence of Cambodia, about my declarations on the very firm determination of the Khmer People who are ready to fight a war for the total liberation of Cambodia. It was thanks to The New York Times that the French government “at last” proposed to my government official negotiations on the transfer of “all authorities” to Cambodia which will become totally independent.

(To be continued)

(Signed) N. Sihanouk

King-Father's history lesson on territorial integrity for visiting F'pec delegation (Part 2)

Click here to read the original article in French

Translated from French by Luc Sâr

History
“Monday 12 May 2008: What I said on that day to the Funcinpec Delegation regarding our territorial Integrity in the 40s and our National Independence issues”

By N. Sihanouk

(Part 2)

1952 – I returned to Paris to demand that France transfer to my Homeland and to my government all the attributes of total Independence of Cambodia. France refused to my demand. I then visited Canada, then the USA, then Japan, then Thailand to make the world recognize this: the Khmer People with a glorious past (ANGKOR) – knowing that the United Kingdom, which in the past was very colonialist-imperialist, granted complete Independence to its ex-colonies (India, Pakistan, Burma, etc…) – is asking this question: “Why France refuses in this new era after WWII to grant a real and total Independence to Cambodia and other ex-Protectorates, ex-colonies belonging to France?” And I, N. Sihanouk, added: “The respective People of the concerned countries, in particular the Khmer people, conscious of having the full right to recover their Freedom, their Dignity, and the national Independence, are decided to fight, with weapons in our hands, to the end for this total Independence. In Indochina, there will inevitably be a very dangerous war on the international level, a war led by Khmer, Vietnamese and Lao Patriots against colonialist French.”

In Washington D.C., I was received by Mr. Foster Dulles, US Secretary of State, in his office. This Mr. Dulles did not grant me sympathy or understanding. He said to me: “It is in our interest, including the higher interest of Cambodia, to fight to the bottom against Communism and to concentrate on this vital problem. Once Communism is defeated, the USA will help you to obtain from France your complete Independence.” I replied to Foster Dulles: “In my country, the Communist Khmer people and their masters, the Vietnamese Vietminh, base their propaganda, subversion and armed fight against the Khmer Royal government on exactly this priority issue of true, authentic Independence of Cambodia. An increasing number of Khmer people are breaking from the royal government and the throne of Cambodia to join the Vietminh and “Pracheachon” [People] communists. If my country, Cambodia, obtain total Independence, the Vietminh and “Pracheachon” communists will be ipso facto in total ruin.” Dulles did not answer me. We left each other.

From Paris, one of my uncles sent me a message to tell me that Mr. Letourneau (French government minister) severely threatened me. In particular, Letourneau said this: “What is King Sihanouk doing in the USA? Sihanouk must be very careful! His crown is on the line” –sic! –

(To be continued)

(Signed) N. Sihanouk