Marshall Mission Files, Lot 54–D270
Memorandum by Colonel J. Hart Caughey to the Committee of Three
Following is Trusum No. 10, dated 24 January 1946:
“At a Joint Conference at Loshan, Honan, town east of Hsinyang and of the Peiping-Hankow railway, it was decided by the leading generals of the region that the cease fire agreement would be strictly [Page 383] adhered to. Nationalist and Communist troops will remain in their present areas, but the Communists will be permitted to move food from one area to another. The conference was held on 23 January, with the American representative of the Kuangshan team present.
“Colonel D. Q. Harris of the Hsuchow team flew over the Lunghai railway, between Hsuchow and the eastern end of the line at Haichow (Tunghai) and noted considerable damage. The many cross ties which have been removed cannot be locally replaced. The Nationalist garrison commander at Haichow reported continued Communist activities in the immediate area.
“Another air reconnaissance observed that large stretches of the Tientsin-Pukow line were destroyed. This was noted by a mission returning from Shanghai on 22 January. The mission also observed troop concentrations near Tungkuang, Tehsien, Pingyuan and Yen-cheng, and a troop train of 10 carriages headed north toward Tsinan.
“Original cease fire leaflets were dropped on 22 January along a coastal strip between Peiping and Shanghai, and as far west as Tsinan. The total number scattered over towns and villages was 85,000.
“A joint meeting was held at Chining, Suiyuan Province, on 20 January, when recent hostilities in that area were discussed by Communist, Nationalist and American representatives. The field team at Chining will seek to interview General Fu Tso Yi at Kuisui to learn the Nationalist view of the matter.”