Marshall Mission Files, Lot 54–D270
Memorandum by Lieutenant General Alvan C. Gillem, Jr., to General Chou En-lai
Dear General Chou: A recent radiogram50 from General Maddocks51 indicates that a great deal of equipment for the Communist Training Program will be in Peiping by 15 April and that the major portion of the equipment will probably be there by 20 April. Certain items which were not procurable either in the Theater or from the Pacific must come from the United States and that equipment is being collected for immediate shipment. This entire program has been handled as a matter of greatest priority in order to meet the 15 April date.
General McClure, during his recent visit, stated you had informed him that the program could probably not commence before 1 June [Page 333] due to the difficulties in assembling Communist personnel. Your early comment would be appreciated.
In arriving at your estimate as to your ability to assemble personnel in the training center, please keep in mind that the 15 April date was set in order to allow sufficient time for training personnel of units which later would be integrated in the 4 Army Groups to be established the 7th, 9th, 10th and 11th months according to the Demobilization, Integration and Reorganization plan. General Marshall will be disturbed over any appreciable delay beyond the 15 April date.
J. Hart Caughey
Colonel, G. S. C.