Marshall Mission Files, Lot 54–D270
Minutes of Meeting Between General Marshall and General Chang Chun at House 28, Chungking, January 24, 1946, 11 a.m.
| Also present: | Col. Caughey |
| Col. Pee | |
| Mr. Shepley2 |
General Chang asked General Marshall if he had been informed of the recent situation at Chihfeng. General Marshall replied that he had not and General Chang outlined the situation. General Chang first explained that he and General Chou En-lai had already discussed this matter without reaching a decision. It appears that on the 21st General Tu Li Ming sent a Col. Wang to Chihfeng where he was received by a Russian officer and had a conference with the American member of the field team at Chihfeng. Together this group drew a map, signed the map and sent it to Peiping with a U.S. captain. On the map were stipulated four areas in which the Russians had no objection for entry by Central Government troops after they had withdrawn. One of the areas included the town of Chihfeng. The commanding general of the 54th Division stationed in the vicinity of Chihfeng desired to move into Chihfeng but the National representative stated that this movement should have approval of Generalissimo. Communist representative stated there would be no objection of Central Government troops moving into the suburbs. General Chang contacted General Chou in Chungking and General Chou verified this concept by stating that the local militia could take care of the internal situation in Chihfeng. (General Chang stated that this local militia had Communist Party members among it.) General Chang had then spoken to the Generalissimo who said that further action should await submission of a report of the field team.
[Page 375]General Marshall explained that there had been some difficulty with reference to the furnishing of daily reports; that he had not been informed of this situation: and that he would take necessary action to see that everyone was informed of daily operational matters.
At this point General Marshall passed to General Chang a memorandum3 containing his proposal regarding the dispatch of a team to Yingkow. General Chang stated that he would have to refer this memorandum to the Generalissimo and General Marshall indicated his assent. (Later in the afternoon an identical memo was submitted to Chou En-lai by Col. Caughey.4 General Chou indicated that he would have to consider the matter further.)
At this point a telephone message was received from General Chou which General Marshall handed to General Chang. The telephone message concerned the Chihfeng incident and General Choirs request that General Marshall dispatch a message to the Executive Headquarters informing it to take no action. (Copy of telephone message attached.4) General Marshall then asked General Chang’s opinion as to the agreement that should be reached in this case. General Chang replied that he had already spoken to General Chou and that they had not reached agreement and that the Generalissimo was of the opinion that the matter should rest until a report from the Executive Headquarters was received.
General Marshall stated that General Byroade had requested additional personnel (594) for the Executive Headquarters. Col. Pee stated that he would look into this and let Col. Caughey know.
General Marshall then stated that the Executive Headquarters had appealed to him to cause “the paper war” of accusations [to] cease (59). General Chang stated that he had already contacted General Chou in this regard. He further stated that K. C. Wu and Mr. Lu, Communist propaganda man had already conferred, wherein he (K. C. Wu) stated that if the Communist accusations ceased today, the 24th, the Nationalist accusations would cease the 25th. General Chang then stated that he would discuss this matter with General Chou again.5
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