Office of the Historian

121.893/1–846: Telegram

General Marshall to the Under Secretary of State (Acheson)

Chungking, 8 January 1946.

26. Reference 91636 from Davis49 and your number 28, January 4, 8 p.m.:50 Robertson is due if current negotiations are successful to be chairman of 3-man commission in Peking administering details of cessation of hostilities, reopening of communications, etc. I have arranged to take over personally direct general supervision of Embassy during his absence.

His prestige in vital job in Peking would be seriously damaged by change of status therefore I desire to continue him as Minister for present.

Due to the lack of experienced China service personnel other than Smyth51 I desire that he be held here for at least 6 weeks after arrival of Butterworth. I hope that 2 months or less from now Robertson’s special job will have been completed. Hereafter I imagine your arrangements for permanent set up of Embassy can be conveniently put into effect without prejudice to my mission.

  1. Not printed; this telegram dealt with assignment of W. Walton Butterworth to the Embassy in China (Marshall Mission Files, Lot 54–D270).↩
  2. Not printed.↩
  3. Robert L. Smyth, Counselor of Embassy in China.↩