PRESIDENT AT ANGKOR TEMPLE.




Initials JRG/VS/CR/ES



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Background: PRESIDENT DE GAULLE OF FRANCE VISITED THE MAJOR TEMPLES OF THE "LOST JUNGLE CITY" OF ANGKOR WAT ON THE SECOND DAY OF HIS FOUR-DAY VISIT TO CAMBODIA.

ENFORCED AS THE PRESIDENT TOURED THE RUINS - CONSIDERED BY MANY AS THE EIGHT WONDER OF THE WORLD. THEY SPREAD OVER AN AREA OF ABOUT SIXTY MILES.

PRINCE NORODOM SIHANOUK, CAMBODIAN HEAD OF STATE, GUIDED THE PRESIDENT AND EXPLAINED THE HISTORY OF ANGKOR WHICH WAS BUILT BETWEEN THE 9TH AND 12TH CENTURIES AND THEN BECAME "LOST" FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS AS THE JUNGLE GREW OVER IT.

THE RUINS WERE DISCOVERED IN THE LAST CENTURY AND HAVE SINCE BEEN WON BACK FROM THE JUNGLE. GENERAL DE GAULLE SAW THE MAIN TEMPLE OF ANGKOR WITH ITS FIVE MASSIVE TOWERS, FULLY ILLUMINATED.

EARLIER IN PHNOM PENH, GENERAL DE GAULLE MADE HIS CALL FOR THE WITHDRAWAL OF UNITED STATES FORCES FROM VIETNAM.