Marshall Mission Files, Lot 54–D270
Memorandum by General Chou En-lai to General Marshall
Although the final hour of complete cessation of hostilities expired at midnight 13 January, Government troops were continuing their attacks on Communist-led troops and territories after 12 p.m. of the same date. Despatches received here revealed:
- (1)
- Hopei The Ninetysecond and Sixteenth Armies had massed three divisions and continued their attacks on Hsinkailing, Hsiaho-chuang, and Hsiangshuiku (all south of Kupeikou) at 11 p.m. 14 January; their aim seems to be the occupation of Kupeikou.
- (2)
- Shansi-Suiyuan (a) At dawn 14 January, a unit of the Shensi-Suiyuan Army located at the northeast of Tsining (on Pingsui Railway) under the command of Tsao Kai was still attacking the Tsining town capital, and fought a heavy engagement with the Communist-led troops garrisoning the town, the fighting did not cease late in the evening. (b) On the same day the Shansi-Suiyuan Army at Tatung also advanced along the Tatung-Hunyuan (southeast of Tatung) highway, and after occupying Chichiachuang was still on its march.
- (3)
- Jehol On 14 January the Thirteenth Army again occupied Heishuichen due northwest of Chianping and was approaching Chihfeng.
- (4)
- Shantung At 6 a.m. 14 January the Fiftyninth Army of the Thirtythird Group Army located at northeast of Chiawong (Shantung-Kiangsu Border) suddenly attacked Communist-led troops in the vicinity. With vain efforts our special messengers tried to secure a truce. The fighting continued all day long.
- (5)
- North Kangsu Four Regiments of the Sixtythird Division of the One Hundredth Army, coordinated by puppet troops at Taihsien, [Page 353] launched a fierce assault on Communist-led troops at Chiang-an (east of Taihsien). The battle raged from 12 January to the forenoon of 14 January, and was still going on.
- (6)
- South Honan Four armies of the Fifth and Sixth War Zones (the Fortyfirst, Fortyseventh, Sixtysixth and Seventysecond Armies) occupied the Communist-held Kwangshan town capital (southeast Honan) at noon 14 January, and was intensely tightening the belt around the Communist-led troops in that region, the battle front covered over one hundred lis.
From the reports above it may be seen that although the hour of complete cessation of hostilities had expired, Government troops in various places are still deploying large forces to launch fierce attacks on Communist-led troops; and they have occupied Kwangshan in Honan, and Heishuichen in Jehol. It should be concluded therefore that in many places the Cessation of Hostilities Order has not been obeyed by Government troops.
Very sincerely yours,