From: The King of Cambodia, H.M. Sisowath,
To: The French Colonial Governor in Cambodia.
(5 November 1906)
Kingdom of Cambodia
No. 205
Office of the King
H.M. Preah Bat Samdech Preah SISOWATH Cham-Chakrapong Hakrireach Barminthor
Phuvanay Kraykeofa Soulalay Preah Chao Krong Kampuchea Thippadey, King of
Cambodia
To the Governor of the French Republic in Cambodia,
Phnom Penh
Mr. Governor,
At a time when France, our benefactor, is busy with the delimitation of the
border of Cambodia with the former Cambodian provinces abducted by Siam, I
believe that it is my duty to send you the following observations and
reservations, and I am also asking you to please let these be known, at an
opportune time, to the delimitation Commission which will start its works and
submit them to the Government of the (French) Republic. My delegates within
this Commission are also in charge of supporting the same demands in front of
the Commission.
1- In reality and incontestably, the cession to Siam by France of the former
Khmer provinces which have just been re-attached to Cambodia – such as Stung
Treng, Tonle Ropov, M’lou Prey, Krat and Koh Kong – cannot provide legitimate
satisfaction to Cambodians given the circumstances in which the Siamese
occupied these territories by force and by hypocrisy during the time when
Cambodia was at the mercy of Annam (Vietnam) and Siam. By returning back these
provinces (to Cambodia), the Siamese are only divesting what they took and
detained against all rights of the people [of Cambodia], and that they do not
want to keep them much longer because the lack of importance of these districts
cannot compensate their costs of their exploitation, administration and
maintenance.
2- We insist on the former natural limits of the Khmer Kingdom which, prior to
the Siamese invasion, included on Siam’s side the provinces of Battambang, Siem
Reap, Stung Treng, Tonle Ropov, M’lou Prey, Kuckhan [currently known as
Sisaket], Prey Sar, Soren [Surin], Sankeac [Sangka], Neang Rong, Nokoreach
Seima (Korat), beyond the Phnom Dangrek Mountain, Koh Kong, Krat and Chantabor
(Chantaboun [Chantaburi]) touching upon Bacnam and the Kingdom of Champassac
(Passac).
All these provinces are still populated by Cambodians and they preserve their
absolute Khmer patriotism.
3- The richest provinces of Cambodia are precisely Battambang and Siem Reap; in
the latter province, (temple) ruins of our Kingdom old powerful capital still
subsist, they are shining proof of the magnificence of our ancestors. These two
provinces, just like the others, were never given to Siam by any of my
predecessors, and our claims in view of their return back to Cambodia have
never ceased and will never cease as long as we do not receive satisfaction in
this regard. Our past numerous claims are testimonials to this effect.
Independently to all historical justifications which confirm our rights on
these two provinces, the 15 July 1867 Treaty concluded between France and Siam
mentioned that the December 1863 Treaty, allegedly concluded between the
Kingdoms of Cambodia and Siam, was annulled and that Siam renounces forever all
vassalage from the part of Cambodia. Therefore, this clause completely
disengaged Siam from the Khmer Kingdom, which, by this treaty, should recover
all her territorial integrity, and if the then-French diplomats – through
Article 4 of this same 15 July 1867 treaty – consented, without consulting the
Cambodian Government or the Cochinchina Governor, that the provinces of
Battambang and Siem Reap remained with Siam, they were absolutely being cheated
by the Siamese in their persuasion of the existence of an alleged treaty
unknown to the Cambodians, and within Siam’s rights and value of these
territories. I am adding, that to my knowledge, this
alleged treaty concluded on December 1863 between Cambodia and Siam never
regularly existed and that it is only fair to provide us with satisfaction. In
fact, in spite of our profound and sincere gratitude towards the protectorate
Government, we cannot prevent ourselves from wondering whether such diplomatic
action to get rid of our assets, behind our back and without our consent, could
last.
In all cases and irrespective of the results of the works [accomplished] by the
current Commission, and the ulterior diplomatic actions regarding our borders
with Siam, not including the cession by Cambodia of her valuable provinces of
Battambang and Siem Reap – along with all its dependences –, we are asking to
reserve forever, for us and all our successors, the right to prevail our
demands until full justice and satisfaction are given to us..
These are, Mr. Governor, the observations and the reservations that I make it
as my duty to send to you, while assuring you that they perfectly represent the
unanimous feelings of my Government and those of my people. Beyond our strong
attachment to these provinces – the irregular detention of which is a real
heartache for all the Cambodian people – you are aware of all the difficulties
resulting from this detention that our neighbors are continuously creating
through the encroachments of our territory, the robberies, the plundering
actions and the daily crimes committed in our country by perpetrators who can
easily find refuge on their side where they remained unpunished. These acts are
actually taking place as they have been proven by the reports from your [French
provincial] Governors and our provincial Governors. I believe that this
situation which is absolutely prejudicial to all public security principle will
become worst as long as the
provinces of Battambang and Siem Reap, the most contiguous ones to Cambodia,
are not returned to us.
Please accept, Mr. Governor, the assurance of my highest regards.
Done in our Royal Palace in Phnom Penh on Monday, the 4th day of the waning
moon of the 2nd month of the Cholasakrach 1268, of the year of the Momi (Horse)
Atthasak, the third of the reign, i.e. the 5th of November 1906 of the
Christian calendar.
(Signed): Sisowath
Copy: The Cabinet Chief
(Signed) Unreadable
Comment:
King Ang Duang or king Norodom did write a similar letter to Napoleon III?
asking him to return all Khmer provinces in Kampuchea Krom to Cambodia, once
France leaves Indochina. Napoleon promised to return all those provinces to
Cambodia. But Napoleon did not live until 1949, when France decided the fate of
Kampuchea Krom. So the French parliament, deliberately disregarded Napoleon's
promises to the Cambodian king, voted to cede all Khmer provinces in Kampuchea
Krom to Vietnam. Sad really!
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