Marshall Mission Files, Lot 54–D270: Telegram
Colonel Henry A. Byroade to General Marshall
Re 53.86 Conference as explained in my message January 14 was necessary as neither party yet had representatives to send. Once people become available I will train them to limit by taking decisive action without resorting to conference and discussion.
Up to now Communist Party is represented by General Yeh, his aide, and a few radio mechanics. Central Government is in little better [Page 360] shape, nominating late last night a Mrir Ho Bo TCIR [garble] representative to Chihfeng.
Yet, cannot afford to get off on wrong foot by sending Americans only to the trouble spots. Have had my planes and personnel standing by all day to proceed with team to Kalgan. General Yeh insisted that we not take off until he could establish radio contact and clear our entrance. We decided to go anyway but could not make it due to weather.
Communists will have no qualified representatives here until we get into Kalgan and bring their personnel out. His staff is scattered all over North China. I began pressing him in Chungking for locations and members so I could set up aircraft to bring them to Peiping. Have asked him every day since but still do not have data.
Do not feel above is Yeh’s fault. He has not succeeded in getting his radio station here in operation as yet and is out of contact with his headquarters. He informed me in Chungking that they could provide entire radio equipment for main station here. I ordered complete set for him anyway after arrival here but this equipment we desire had to get from Pacific and it has not yet arrived. He hopes to get his radio in operation tonight.
Reconnaissance plane reported yesterday as lost has been located on Chihfeng airfield. We contacted this plane on ground and were informed that pilot and crew were being prevented from take-off by Russian major in charge. This proves Russians still in Chihfeng but incident not alarming as pilot was not armed with proper identification and orders. Russian major requests we obtain clearances for pilot to leave with Red Army headquarters in Chan Chun [Changchun,] Manchuria. Do not believe this necessary as leaflets were dropped there this morning and next plane will carry representatives of all three parties. If they intern National Government and Communist representatives then we will have story.
General Yeh insists he does not have man to go to Chihfeng until we bring in some of his personnel from Kalgan. This we will do soon as weather permits. Prospects favorable for tomorrow and team will proceed Chihfeng next day via General Tu li-ming’s headquarters in Chinchow.
Being unable to put teams in field as yet we are sending Marine planes as well as our own to 15 trouble areas in morning with locally prepared leaflets.
Central Government here has only communications as yet to field commanders. Consequently [comments?] are received all day long from them of Communists violations of orders. Am aware that in Chungking both sides are complaining. Most complaints have been [Page 361] dated January 14 or before. I am convinced that both sides have been jockeying for final positions in last two days. Believe also that while main headquarters on both sides, as well as commissioners here, may be sincere, that local commanders may be making final pushes on their own authority. If this suspicion correct we may expect decrease of incidents soon.
Appreciate your concern. The Americans are ready. Teams will depart at earliest moment Chinese can accompany. In meantime leaflet battle and orders to commanders who are in radio contact with Central Government here are all that is at our disposal. Know fully my duty to send out teams to critical areas.87