CAMBODIA*

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79R00904A000500010139-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 12, 2006
• Sequence Number: 139
• Publication Date: January 7, 1959
• Content Type: MF

Approved For Release 2006/10113 :CIA-RDP79R00904A000500010139-5
CENTRAL INT ELLIGI;NCE l~.GEIdCY
OFFICE OF N!.TI01l~L L',STI~:~~.TES
7 January 1959
Mkt?IOR~~NDUM ~_^OR THL DIftECTCR
SUBJECT: Canibodia~~
1. We have received evidence of two coup plots to oust
Prince Sihanouk from power in Cambodia. Taking into account
his unstable tempcramenty the fact that Thailand and South
Vietnam are implicated in the nlots~ and the already unsettled
political situation in Cambodian those coup plots could have
explosive results.
2, ~~A~parerxtly~ the two plots are unconnected, One is a
military coup to be led by G~:neral Dap Chhuon ~ and the other
involvos the building up of a resistance movement around Sin
Sary ~. Neither of these plots jud~;in~; from available infor-
mation~ is sufficiently well-conceived for quick success and
Chore would sue;-r~~to be considerable likelihood that they would
abort if attompted.
25X1 ,~ been discussed with OCI and DDfb'p
1) "D-p Chhuon's Proposals for Overthrowing
25X1 Prince z anou .
2) "Thai-Vietnamese Plans for OverthrowinP
Tovernm~:nt." ~ 5i~~~F?IJ~`Ca
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Approved Far Release 2006110/13 :CIA-RDP79R00904A000500010139-5
 Approved For Release 2006/10113: CIA-RDP79R00904A000500010139-5
3. The immediate danger arising frarn these plots is that
they might cause Sih:.~nduk to tike some kind of precipitous
counteraction which could damage the US position in Southeast
Asia. Whether or not the coups are called off
Sihanouk-s suspicions may
in fact already be aroused by the dis~ppea.rance of Sam Sary
from Phnom Penh and there is a good possibility that Sihanouk
may now knows or hears of one or bath of the coup plats. In
any cases if either plot is activated or fu11y uncovered the
current uneasy relations between Cambodia and Thailand and
South. Vietnam wou7 d almost cex~-E,ainly beoome even much worse.
Sihanouk would be very likely to assume that the US was behind
the ;o],otting and denounce the TIS -- faith of course the full
cooperation of the Communist Bloc.
!~. If Sihanouk were to react violently to knowledge of
a plot against him there are a v