Nanking Embassy Files, Lot F–73: Telegram
The Commanding General, United States Forces, China Theater (Wedemeyer), to the Chief of Staff, United States Army (Marshall)
[CFBX 14735.] The following message has been received from the Commanding General 3d Phib Corps:
“Railroad train en route Tangshan to Chinwangtao has been receiving small arms fire from village about 600 yards north of Loanshein [Lwanhsien] (118 45—39 45). Three hundred yards of track and road-bed destroyed by mines causing several casualties among Chinese workmen. Peck under fire yesterday in same general locality. Peck has requested an air bombing mission against this village. Am directing Peck send emissary to village to inform Communist leader that if fire continues against our forces I will order an air strafing mission against village. Reports indicate such villages often abandoned by civilians. Unless otherwise directed, if firing continues from this village directed against our troops, I intend to order air strafing mission.”
My reply thereto was as follows:
“If American lives are endangered by the small arms fire received from village about 600 yards north of Loanhsien, as indicated in your radio CAC 0368, it is desired that you inform the military leader or responsible authority in that village in writing, both through a carefully selected emissary and through dropped leaflets, that fire from that particular village is endangering American lives and that such firing must be stopped. After insuring that your warning to said military leader or responsible authority has been received and understood, should firing that jeopardizes American lives continue, you are authorized to take appropriate military action. Your warning and action should include necessary measures to insure safety of innocent persons.”
The railroad line Chinwangtao–Tangku on which the above incident occurred, is essential as a supply line for the Marines in Peking-Tientsin-Taku area because the Port of Taku may freeze in December, thus jeopardizing the supply situation of the Marines in that area if they are not withdrawn prior to 1 January. Further, the railroad line Chinwangtao–Tangshan also on which firing occurred is necessary for movement of coal to the sea coast for shipment to Shanghai where there are approximately 19,000 American troops closing out the China Theater and awaiting shipment home.
Information contained in paragraphs 1 and 2 above was furnished to the senior American in Chungking with instructions to pass to the Generalissimo and Communist leader Chou En-lai who is presently in Chungking.
In view of the developments in North China which inevitably will involve our forces in incidents of increasingly serious nature, it is recommended that the entire Marine force be evacuated from China, movement to be initiated at once. It is further recommended that the Chinese Government be informed of this decision so that the Generalissimo can make provisions to relieve the Marines by Central Government troops. The American Forces including the Marines in China have completed their assigned mission of assisting in the redisposition of Chinese Central Government Forces to facilitate the disarming and deportation of Japanese. All of the incidents that have occurred thus far have been caused by Chinese Communists or Chinese bandits and therefore are directly related to fratricidal warfare which by existing Theater Directive Americans are cautioned to avoid. In submitting this recommendation it is realized:
- a.
- The Chinese Communists will interpret removal of U.S. Forces as a complete success in their program of intimidation and propaganda.
- b.
- Coal supply to Shanghai may be interrupted causing untold suffering and chaos in that area. Stability in Shanghai area is vital to the Generalissimo for political, economic and psychological reasons.
- c.
- Further, although we have complied with our directives and have placed sufficient Chinese Central Government troops in North China to disarm the Japanese and facilitate their repatriation were it not for Communist opposition, it is realized that open civil war may break out once the Marines are removed. At the same time, however, it is possible that the fratricidal strife now instant in North China might reach the scale of open civil war even though the Marines are not evacuated.
The Marine Commander has exercised excellent judgment throughout in avoiding serious incidents under increasingly difficult conditions. However the Chinese Communists in all probability are striving to create an incident which will prove before the bar of public opinion that Americans are participating in fratricidal warfare. It will be extremely difficult if not impossible to avoid involvement with dissident groups particularly when one such group will do utmost to precipitate embarrassing situations.
Admiral Kinkaid has seen this message and concurs.