893.00/3–446
Basis for Military Reorganization and for the Integration of the Communist Forces Into the National Army27
Article I—Command
Section 1. The President of the Republic of China being the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Republic of China exercises [Page 296] command through the Ministry of National Defense (or National Military Council). The commanders of the army groups and of the separate armies and the directors of the service areas herein provided for shall report to the Commander-in-Chief through the Ministry of National Defense (or National Military Council).
Section 2. The Commander-in-Chief shall have the power to appoint and relieve all subordinate officers provided, however, that in the event it becomes necessary during the process of the reorganization of the military forces to relieve the commander of any Communist-led unit or any Communist officer holding other position, the Commander-in-Chief shall appoint in the place of the officer relieved an officer nominated by the senior Communist member of the government.
Article II—Functions and Restrictions
Section 1. The primary function of the army shall be to defend the Republic in time of war. In time of peace the principal function of the army shall be training. It may be employed[,] however, to quell domestic disorders, but only as provided in Section 2 of this article.
Section 2. When, in the event of domestic disorders, the governor of a province shall have certified to the Council of State that the local civil police, and the Peace Preservation Corps have been unable to cope with the situation, the President, in his capacity as commander-in-chief, shall, with the approval of the Council of State, employ the army to restore order.
Article III—Organization
Section 1. The army shall consist of armies of three divisions each with supporting troops not to exceed 15% of their total strength. At the conclusion of 12 months the armies shall consist of 108 divisions of not to exceed 14,000 men each. Of these, 18 shall be formed from Communist Forces.
Section 2, China shall be divided into 8 service areas under directors responsible to the Minister of National Defense (or National Military Council) for the following functions within their respective areas:
The supply, quartering and pay of all military units located within the area;
The storage, reconditioning and issue of the weapons and equipment collected from demobilized troops within the area;
The processing of demobilized officers and enlisted personnel within the area and the continued processing of demobilized officers and enlisted personnel passing through the area enroute to their homes or other designated destination;
The processing and elementary training of individual recruits received within the area as replacements for the armies;
[Page 297]The supply of military schools within the area;
The service area directors shall have no authority or control over the armies located within their areas and they are specifically prohibited from interfering with or influencing in any way whatsoever civil administration or affairs;
Each army commander within a particular service area shall maintain in the service area headquarters his own representative to insure that the needs of the forces under his command are fully and expeditiously met;
There shall be a meeting every second month within each service area and presided over by the service area director. These meetings shall be attended by the army and division commanders, or their duly appointed representatives, of each army located within that area. A representative of the Ministry of National Defense (or National Military Council) shall also be present. The instructions of the Ministry of National Defense (or National Military Council) shall be presented, and the state of supply and similar matters of the service area discussed.
Article IV—Demobilization
Section 1. During the 12 months immediately following the promulgation of this agreement the Government shall demobilize all units in excess of 90 divisions and the Communist Party shall demobilize all units in excess of 18 divisions. The demobilization shall start immediately and shall proceed at the rate of approximately one twelfth of the total number to be demobilized during each month.
The Government shall prepare within three weeks of the promulgation of this agreement, a list of the 90 divisions to be retained and the order of demobilization of units during the first two months. The Communist Party shall prepare within three weeks of the promulgation of this agreement, a complete list of its military units stating character, strength, armament, names of brigades and higher commanders and location of units. This report shall include a list of the 18 divisions to be retained and the order of demobilization during the first two months. These lists shall be submitted to the Military Sub-Committee.
Six weeks after the promulgation of this agreement the Communist Party shall submit to the Military Sub-Committee a complete list of the army units to be demobilized and the Government shall submit a similar list.
On receipt of the foregoing lists and documents the Military Sub-Committee shall prepare a detailed plan for the execution of this agreement and submit it for the approval of both parties. After such approval the lists, documents and plan shall be transmitted to the Ministry of National Defense (or National Military Council).
Section 2. The arms and equipment of the army units demobilized may be utilized to complete the arms and equipment of the army units [Page 298] to be retained in service. A detailed statement of such transfers will be submitted to the Ministry of National Defense (or National Military Council) by the Executive Headquarters. The surplus matériel will be stored as directed by that Ministry (or Council).
Section 3. In order to prevent large scale hardship or lawlessness arising as a result of the demobilization, the Government and the Communist Party shall initially provide for the supply, movement and employment of their respective demobilized personnel. The Government shall take over unified control of these matters as soon as practicable.
Section 4. During the 6 months following the first 12 months the National divisions shall be further reduced to 50 and the Communist divisions shall be further reduced to 10 making a total of 60 divisions to be organized into 20 armies.
Article V—Integration and Deployment
Section 1. During the first 12 months after the promulgation of this agreement there shall be organized 4 army groups each consisting of 1 National and 1 Communist army. Each army shall consist of 3 divisions. The schedule for establishing these army groups shall be as follows: One army group shall be organized during the 7th month; another the 9th month; another the 10th month; and another the 11th month. The staffs of the army groups shall consist of approximately one half National and one half Communist staff officers.
Section 2 The deployment of the armies at the end of the first 12 months shall be as follows:
- Northeast China—5 armies each consisting of 3 National divisions, each army with a National commander and 1 army consisting of 3 Communist divisions with a Communist commander—total 6 armies.
- Northwest China—5 armies each consisting of 3 National divisions each with a National commander—total 5 armies.
- North China—3 armies each consisting of 3 National divisions, each with a National commander; and 4 army groups each consisting of 1 National and 1 Communist army of 3 divisions. 2 army group commanders shall be National officers and 2 army group commanders shall be Communist officers—total 11 armies.
- Central China—9 armies each consisting of 3 National divisions, each with a National commander; and 1 army consisting of 3 Communist divisions, with a Communist commander—total 10 armies.
- South China (including Formosa)—4 armies each consisting of 3 National divisions, each with a National commander—total 4 armies.
Section 3. During the following 6 months the 4 army groups referred to in section 2 above shall be reorganized, creating 4 separate armies each consisting of 1 National and 2 Communist divisions and 2 separate armies each consisting of 2 National and 1 Communist divisions. [Page 299] Thereafter, the organization of army groups shall be terminated.
Section 4. The deployment of the armies at the end of the second 6 months (i. e. at the end of a total of 18 months) shall be as follows:
- Northeast China—1 army consisting of 2 National and 1 Communist divisions with a National commander and 4 armies each consisting of 3 National divisions, each with a National commander—total 5 armies.
- Northwest China—3 armies each consisting of 3 National divisions each with a National commander—total 3 armies.
- North China—3 armies each consisting of 1 National and 2 Communist divisions, each with a Communist commander; 1 army consisting of 2 National and 1 Communist divisions with a National commander; and 2 armies each consisting of 3 National divisions, each with a National commander—total 6 armies.
- Central China—1 army consisting of 1 National and 2 Communist divisions with a Communist commander and 3 armies each consisting of 3 National divisions, each with a National commander—total 4 armies.
- South China (including Formosa)—2 armies each consisting of 3 National divisions, each with a National commander—total 2 armies.
Article VI—Peace Preservation Corps
Section 1. Each province shall be authorized to maintain a Peace Preservation Corps in proportion to the population of the province but the strength of the Corps for any one province shall not exceed 15,000 men. After it has become apparent that the civil police of any province have been unable to cope with the situation, the governor of that province is authorized to employ this Corps to quell civil disorders.
Section 2. The armament of the Peace Preservation Corps shall be restricted to the pistol, the rifle and the automatic rifle.
Article VII—Special Provisions
Section 1. Executive Headquarters
The Executive Headquarters created in the agreement of the Committee of Three, signed 10 January 1946, shall be the agency through which this agreement shall be implemented.
Section 2. Common Uniform
A common distinctive uniform for the reorganized military forces of China shall be adopted for wear by all officers and enlisted men of the Army of the Republic of China.
Section 3. Personnel System
An adequate personnel system shall be established and the name, grade, and assignment of each officer of the Army shall be carried on a single list without political prejudice.
Section 4. Special Armed Forces
Neither the Government nor any political party nor any group or [Page 300] association shall maintain, or in any way support, any secret or independent armed force, after the effective date of this agreement.
Section 5. Puppet and Irregular Troops
All troops which were maintained in China under the sponsorship, directly or indirectly, of Japan and all troops maintained by persons or factions other than the Government or Communist Party shall be disarmed and disbanded as soon as possible. The detailed plan (Article VIII, Section 1) shall provide for the execution of the provisions of this section in a definitely limited period of time.
Article VIII—General
Section 1. Upon approval of this agreement by Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek and Chinese Communist Party Chairman Mao Tse-tung there shall be prepared and submitted to them for approval by the Military Sub-Committee a detailed plan of the schedules, regulations and specific measures to govern the execution of the provisions of this agreement.
Section 2, It is understood and agreed that the detailed plans above referred to shall provide that the demobilization shall start at the earliest practical date; that the organization of service areas shall be instituted gradually and that the detailed procedure of the integration of armies shall be carried out under the provisions of Article V.
It is further understood and agreed that during the initial period of transition, the Government and the Communist Party shall be responsible for the good order, the supply of their respective troops and for their prompt and full compliance with the instructions issued to them by the Executive Headquarters.
Representative of the Government
Representative of the Chinese Communist Party
Advisor
- Copy transmitted to the Secretary of State by General Marshall with his covering memorandum of March 4; received about March 18.↩