Before the Killing Fields : Witness to Cambodia and the Vietnam War

"This is a gripping portrait of a country poised between peace and war. In the mid-1960s, Cambodia's position within South East Asia was highly vulnerable. The Americans were embroiled in war in Vietnam, the Viet Cong were gaining clandestine control over Cambodian frontier areas, while the Cambodian government - under the leadership of a charming but difficult Head of State, Prince Norodom Sihanouk - wanted nothing more than to preserve their neutrality and keep out of the war. Highly distrustful of any perceived foreign interference, the Cambodians had even rioted and attacked the American and British Embassies in Phnom Penh and their debris was still strewn on the streets when Leslie Fielding arrived in the city. Yet against this grim and dramatic backdrop, the daily round of international foreign policy somehow had to continue and "Before the Killing Fields" offers a compelling and fascinating account of how this was achieved. As well as a political history this is also a portrait of an exotic but overlooked country at a critical stage in its development. Violence, intrigue and even the supernatural mingle with issues of day-to-day management and office morale. From diplomatic meetings conducted in opium dens and dancing lessons with beautiful princesses at the Royal Palace to candid portraits of the rest of the international community of Phnom Penh, "Before the Killing Fields" is an illuminating insight into a lost world."--Bloomsbury Publishing. In The Mid-1960s, Cambodia's Position Within South East Asia Was Highly Vulnerable. The Americans Were Embroiled In War In Vietnam, The Viet Cong Were Gaining Clandestine Control Over Cambodian Frontier Areas, While The Cambodian Government - Under The Leadership Of A Charming But Difficult Head Of State, Prince Norodom Sihanouk - Wanted Nothing More Than To Preserve Their Neutrality And Keep Out Of The War. Highly Distrustful Of Any Perceived Foreign Interference, The Cambodians Had Even Rioted And Attacked The American And British Embassies In Phnom Penh And Their Debris Was Still Strewn On The Streets When Leslie Fielding Arrived In The City. Yet Against This Grim And Dramatic Backdrop, The Daily Round Of International Foreign Policy Somehow Had To Continue And Before The Killing Fields Offers A Compelling And Fascinating Account Of How This Was Achieved. As Well As A Political History This Is Also A Portrait Of An Exotic But Overlooked Country At A Critical Stage In Its Development. Violence, Intrigue And Even The Supernatural Mingle With Issues Of Day-to-day Management And Office Morale. From Diplomatic Meetings Conducted In Opium Dens And Dancing Lessons With Beautiful Princesses At The Royal Palace To Candid Portraits Of The Rest Of The International Community Of Phnom Penh, Before The Killing Fields Is An Illuminating Insight Into A Lost World.--book Jacket. Mob At The Chancery Gates -- The Number One Twister -- Chez Madame Chhum -- Friendly Fire -- One-way Ticket To 'phnompers' -- Travellers To An Antique Land -- Cambodia In The Sixties -- The Quest For Security -- Starting Again, From Scratch -- Labour And Leisure, New-style -- Learning To Be An 'ambassador' -- The Tribes Are Restless -- The Approach To Geneva -- Chou En-lai's Road Block -- Patrick Gordon Walker And The Peace Process -- The Scene On The Street -- The Coming Of The Viet Cong -- The Paper Chase -- Bilateral Relations -- The Diplomacy Of Small Things -- Cheshire Cat Chinese -- Feudal French -- Ugly Americans -- Bonzer Australians -- Feelings In Retrospect -- The Prince In Perspective -- The 'crocodile Princess' In Remembrance -- The Crash -- Epilogue On Indo-china -- Confidential Annex -- Not The Secret Service. Leslie Fielding. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [251]-256) And Index.