12 November 1975

The US releases 360 tons of rice that was to be airlifted into Cambodia before it fell to the Khmer Rouge. After overcoming opposition of the Thai government, which wanted to sell their own surplus rice to relief organizations, it will be distributed to refugees in Thailand.

@SaigonYork @NATO I don’t know for sure. Usually the main factor for the Khmer Rouge was whether they were recognized early (before the Fall of the Lon Nol government) by the respective country. Mauritanian President Moktar Ould Daddah also maintained strong links with China, Cambodia’s key ally.

@jemora13 Hi Jose, each posting happened exactly 45 years ago (except for the monthly summaries, which sometimes include events that couldn’t be dated exactly).

Sary also proposed that Thailand sends back Cambodian refugees. He denied that executions were a national policy, and blamed such reports on the chaotic conditions after the Khmer Rouge victory. And Cambodia is too busy with internal matters to participate in @UNESCAP or @ASEAN.

3. respect each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity

4. establish close economic and commercial co-operation (Sary declined Thai aid but agreed to a barter trade system where Thailand provides rice, construction material and oil for Cambodian logs and fish.

Concluding his visit to Thailand, Khmer Rouge Foreign Minister Ieng Sary and his Thai counterpart agree in a joint communiqué that Cambodia and Thailand would

1. exchange ambassadors at a mutually convenient date

2. establish liaison offices in Aranyaprathet and Poipet