Until Cambodia's independence from France in 1953, the colonial power was represented in Phnom Penh by a high commissioner, who used a hotel that was purposely built for these activities which was partially funded through the local administrative budget of French Indochina.

[3] After the fall of Phnom Penh on 17 April, the new government did not allow France, as well as most other countries with the exception of a few allies, mostly communist states, to reopen its embassy.

However, he was actually accredited as a full-fledged ambassador in his presentation of credentials on 15 November, which was one of several contentious decisions made by France to enhance its relations with Cambodia at what was considered an early stage of reintegration with the international community.

[15] During the reign of Prince Norodom Ranariddh as Cambodian prime minister, diplomats were denied access to him in retaliation to a warning published for foreign tourists after a series of assaults, with the rape of a French woman by a police officer soon after her arrival being a particularly concerning one.

This eventually led to a diplomatic escalation that resulted in a fallout between Ranariddh and France as well as ambassador Le Lidec taking a stricter stance on human rights issues in the country.