893.00/5–2846
Agreement on Restoration of Communications: Document “A”29
To: All National Government and Communist Party Military Commanders in North and Central China
All commanders will take immediate steps as a part of their cease fire obligations to assist in the reconstruction of lines of communications. These lines of communications include all roads, railways, waterways, postal service facilities, telephone lines, telegraph lines or radio installations.
Commanders will remove or destroy at once all mines, blockhouses, blockades, fortifications or other military works on and along lines of communications which interfere with the operation of such lines.
All interferences with civilian travel and passage of goods such as peremptory inspections, destruction of personal goods or commodities and interference with mail and telegraph under any unlawful or false reason whatsoever will be removed and barred.
Commanders will be responsible for the protection of lines of communication repair units of technicians and laborers. Troop movements for this purpose will not be made without prior approval of the Executive Headquarters.
Commanders will be responsible for local assistance in every practicable way in the form of labor, food[,] housing, information, material for reconstruction, transportation, shop facilities, and such other supplies and services as are required by the construction agency. Labor and services will not be conscripted without adequate compensation. They shall also be responsible to the maximum extent practical for the return of rails, equipment, and supplies removed incident in the defense in the war against Japan or as defensive measures subsequent thereto.
Commanders will be responsible for the above functions within the areas controlled by them as of 2400 hours, 13 January 1946.
Reconstruction will be accomplished by representatives of the Ministry of Communications under the general supervision of the Executive Headquarters. Field teams from the Executive Headquarters will be dispatched to the major areas of lines of communications repair [Page 423] and will be available to proceed to such other areas as may be necessary.
Additional instructions will be issued from time to time as appropriate.
At this time, it is desired to convey to all Commanders this highest responsibility next to cessation of hostilities in reestablishing peace and prosperity for China.
It is agreed between the Commissioners of the Executive Headquarters with sanction of the conferees of the National Government and Communist Party at Chungking that no military advantage is to be gained by either the National Government or Communist Party through the restoration of the lines of communications. No movements of troops or armaments will be allowed over reopened transportation lines except as authorized by the Executive Headquarters.
The restoration of China’s long time severed lines of communications and the cooperation required to effect the restoration will be considered by all society and the world at large as evidence of the sincerity of the National Government and the Communist Party to establish a genuine and definite cessation of hostilities.
All Commanders are enjoined to place this motive above all others in this present opportune occasion to effect a lasting peace.
General Chou En-lai
General G. C. Marshall
- Copies of Documents “A”, “B” and “C” transmitted to the Secretary of State by General Marshall with his covering memorandum of May 28; received about June 17.↩