DISCUSSION OF THE DELINEATION OF THAILAND - CAMBODIA AND CAMBODIA-LAOS BOUNDARIES ON SERIES L7017 MAPS PRODUCED BY ROYAL THAI SURVEY DEPARTMENT (RTSD)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP08C01297R000100230008-0
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 14, 2012
• Sequence Number: 8
• Publication Date: March 3, 1972
• Content Type: MEMO

Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/11 : CIA-RDP08CO1297R000100230008-0
U. S. ARMY TOPOGRAPHIC COMMAND
U. S. ARMY ENGINEER TOPOGRAPHIC DATA CENTER
DEPARTMENT OF TECHNICAL SERVICES
TOPOGRAPHIC DATA EVALUATION DIVISION
TPCTD(53350) 3 March 1972
SUBJECT: Discussion of the Delineation of Thailand - Cambodia and Cambodia- Laos
Boundaries on Series L7017 Maps Produced by Royal Thai Survey Department
(RTSD)
1. The subject discussion was held on 29 February 1972 in the Office of the Geographer,
Department of State (D/State). Participating were Dr. E. Stoneman, Office of the Geo-
grapher and Messrs, N. Hashiguchi and D. Gonchar, Topographic Data Evaluation
Division.
2. Specific Series L7017 maps under discussion were sheets 5434 1, 5435 II, 5436 II,
5533 III, 5533 IV, 5536 IV, 5537 II and 6037 IV. All sheets arc edition 1-RTSD, compiled
during 1969, printed during 1971 and received at USATOPOCOM on 23 February 1972.
3. A comparison of the sheets cited in item 2 above was made with corresponding sheets
of the D/State - approved USATOPOCOM Boundary Study, dated 21 June 1968. A copy of
this study was supplied to RTSD on 26 June 1968. The comparison revealed that all eight
sheets contain critical defects in the delineation of the international boundaries. Further,
that the name of Cambodia is portrayed as Khmer Republic on five of the sheets and as
Cambodia on the remaining three sheets.
4. Dr. Stoneman took the position that the poor delineation of the Thailand - Cambodia
boundary on sheets 5434 I, 5435 II between UTM Grids TV 1565-TV2447, 5436 II, 5533 III,
5533 IV, 5537 II and 6037 IV is a result of poor cartographic technique on the part of RTSD,
and is not a difference of Interpretation of the boundary. He requested that this matter
be informally brought to the attention of RTSD, with the view of having that agency make
the necessary adjustments.
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/11 : CIA-RDP08CO1297R000100230008-0
 Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/11 : CIA-RDP08CO1297R000100230008-0
TPC TD(53350)
SUBJECT: Discussion of the Delineation of Thailand - Cambodia and
Cambodia - Laos Boundaries on Series L7017 Maps Pro-
duced by Royal Thai Survey Department (RTSD)
5. Dr. Stoneman requested that, for the present time, the delineation of the Thailand -
Cambodia boundary on sheet 5435 II between UTM Grids TV2447 - TV2938 remain as de-
picted; and that it not be labelled INDEFINITE, as recommended in D/State letter dated
21 June 1968. His tentative decision is based on the fact that RTSD portrays boundary
pillars numbers 52-59 along this sector of the boundary. However, Dr. Stoneman further
requested that RTSD be informally asked to submit evidence that the boundary pillars were
established as a direct result of the boundary treaties recognized by Cambodia and the
United States. After examining the RTSD evidence, he will recommend a course of action
for USATOPOCOM. (This course of action may also affect the delineation of this bound-
ary on Series L7016 sheet 5535 III currently being compiled by the Kansas City Office
under BC 170069 .)
6. Dr. Stoneman believes that the delineation of the Thailand - Cambodia boundary on
sheet 5536 IV may supersede the delineation on USATOPOCOM Boundary Study Sheet
Number 18 (Series L708 sheet 5552 III edition 1- AMSFE). His belief is based on the fact
that RTSD portrays boundarypillars number 43-47 along this sector of the boundary. How-
ever, Dr. Stoneman requested that RTSD be informally asked to submit evidence that the bound-
ary pillars were established as a direct result of the boundary treaties recognized by Cam-
bodia and the United States. He also requested that RTSD be informally asked to delineate
the boundary, portray the corresponding boundary pillars and submit this with the necessary
treaty evidence for the area between 13?40'. - 13?45'N on Series L708 sheet 5552 III edition
1 - AMSFE. After examining the RTSD evidence, Dr. Stoneman will recommend a course
of action for USATOPOCOM. (This course of action may also affect the delineation of
this boundary on Series L7016 sheet 5536 III currently bbing compiled by the Kansas City
Office under BC 170069.)
7. Dr. Stoneman does not agree with the delineation of the Cambodia - Laos boundary on
sheet 6037 IV. He believes that RTSD unintentionally used the wrong map source, when
delineating that sector of the boundary. He maintains that RTSD used the delineation depict-
ed on Series L7011 sheet 6053 IV edition 1- AMSFE; and not the D/State - approved deline-
ation depicted on Series L7011 sheet 6053 IV edition 2 - AMS (USATOPOCOM Boundary
Study Sheet Number 2.) Dr. Stoneman requested that this matter be informally brought to
the-attention of RTSD, with the view of having that agency make the necessary adjustments.
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/11 : CIA-RDP08CO1297R000100230008-0
 Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/11: CIA-RDP08C01297R000100230008-0
TPCTD(53350)
SUBJECT: Discussion of the Delineation of Thailand - Cambodia and
Cambodia - Laos Boundaries on Series L7017 Maps Pro-
duced by Royal Thai Survey Department (RTSD)
8. With reference to the name of Cambodia that appears on the RTSD - produced maps,
Dr. Stoneman took the position that RTSD is free to use either the,term Cambodia or
Khmer Republic, Both terms are acceptable to D/State and have been approved by the Board
on Geographic Names. For the sake of consistency, USATOPOCOM uses the term
Cambodia. Thisis the term that appears on the 159 maps of Cambodia, Series L7016,
already produced by USATOPOCOM. The use of the term Cambodia by USATOPOCOM
was approved by Dr. Stoneman in a telephone conversation with Mr. Hashiguchi on
6 April 1971; and was reiterated during the discussion of 29 February 1972.
DONALD J. GONCHAR
East Asia-Pacific Branch
Topographic Data Evaluation Division
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/10/11 : CIA-RDP08C01297R000100230008-0