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clean DO NOT TYPE IN THIS SPACE Air Pouch RESTRICTED PRIORITY (Security Classification) FOREIGN SERVICE DESPATCH 3.1100-N1/11-153 DEPARTMENT OF STATE FROM SAIGON 195 DESP. NO. TO : THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE, WASHINGTON 1959 November 7, 1953 DATE REF : CA 581, August 7, 1953 DIRECTOR 4 ACTION For Dept. A-1 I DC/R-1 DEPT. OLI-6 s/p*2 H-2 FE=4 EUR-5 Use Only REC'D F 11/21 o AIR-3 OTHER OSD-2 I-3 P-1 CIA-5 5/5-2 G-1 SUBJECT: Visit of Vice President Nixon to Indochina The Vice President of the United States arrived in Indochina on October 30. I received the Vice Presidential party at the airport of Siem Reap in Cambodia and accompanied the Vice President to an audience with His Majesty, King Norodom Sihanouk. We found the King in a somewhat emotional state of mind, characteristic during the last six months. He appeared somewhat nervous and ill at ease at receiving so distinguished a visitor. However, he did not criticize the French nor, indeed, did he refer to Franco-Khmer relations. Likewise the King refrained from demanding, as had his Prime Minister with previous senatorial visitors, that U.S. military end item assistance be handed over directly to the Cambodian army. The remainder of the program in Cambodia was carried out as set forth in the enclosed copy of Vice President Nixon's itinerary in Indochina. During interviews on the morning of October 31 with the Prime Minister, Penn Nouth, and with High Commissioner Risterucci, who was accompanied by General de Langlade, the Vice President had an opportunity to hear both sides of the case governing the present relationships of Cambodia and France. On the whole, both the Prime Minister and the representatives of the French Government were moderate in their expressions and the interviews passed off pleasantly. Vice President Nixon and his party arrived in Saigon on October 31 accom- panied by myself and Mrs. Heath; the Control Officer, Mr. McClintock, and Mrs. McClintock. He was met at the airport by the Prime Minister, Mr. Tam, and by General Henri Navarre, acting in the dual capacity as Commander-in-Chief in Indochina and as Acting Commissioner General in the absence of Ambassador Dejean, who returned from France on November 2 for the express purpose of entertaining the Vice President at luncheon that day. The program in Vietnam was carried out on schedule as indicated in the itinerary, with the exception that on the insistance of Bao Dai, who had retreated to his villa in Dalat, a dinner was arranged in honor of the Vice President for Sunday evening, November 1. As reported in Embassy despatch 181 of November 2g Bao Dai granted an audience to Mr. Nixon lasting over an hours and after a dinner which was RMcClintocksmr RESTRICTER E.O. 10501 REPORTER Reproduced at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum