Out of the smashup of French Indo-China in 1954 emerged four states: 1) Communist North Viet Nam, dark as night; 2) South Viet Nam, run by a strongly anti-Communist friend of the West; 3) the unpredictable Kingdom of Cambodia, which chose "active" neutrality; 4) a Red-riddled Kingdom of Laos, which felt it could afford nothing more dynamic than "plain" neutrality.
Throughout this area last week there was a rapid reshuffling of positions. The reason: Cambodia's Premier, Prince Norodom Sihanouk, suddenly abandoned his "active" (i.e., pro-Western) neutrality and recognized Red China. Sihanouk visited Red China two years ago and appeared impressed with...