Cambodia: Ave Ave

A few weeks ago, it seemed that U.S. relations with Cambodia's sensitive Prince Norodom Sihanouk were finally looking up a bit. The Pentagon was talking less heatedly about the North Vietnamese infiltrating the south through Cambodia. Roving Ambassador W. Averell Harriman had wangled an invitation to visit Pnompenh in September to discuss a resumption of diplomatic relations, which Sihanouk suspended 15 months ago. A few days later, at a Washington press conference, Secretary Rusk even had a few words of gentle praise for Sihanouk, who had "done a very constructive and positive job in the development of his country." For his part, Sihanouk began to tone down his own blasts at the U.S., allowing as how "We should be very happy if the United States wants to be our friend."

Then came the U.S. bombings of a village along the vaguely defined Cambodian-South Vietnamese border fort night ago. The U.S. claimed the village was guerrilla-infested and in South Viet Nam. Sihanouk claimed it was peace-loving and in Cambodia, huffily suggested that the U.S. did not recognize that his country had any frontiers at all. With that, Sihanouk last week abruptly passed word that Harriman was no longer welcome. "I am 'Monsieur' Sihanouk, ethnically Cambodian, and do not exist according to the American conception," Snookie sniffed. "Therefore, it is not possible to hold talks with me."