Marshall Mission Files, Lot 54–D270
Document Prepared by the Staff of General
Marshall
[Chungking,] 1 January 1946.
Cessation of Hostilities
Plan13
the problem
To arrange for the immediate cessation of hostility between the Central
Government and Communist Armies in China and the establishment [Page 4] of the necessary executive
headquarters to properly implement agreed terms of the armistice.
discussion
- 1.
- Representatives of the Central Government and the Communist
Parties have agreed to effect immediate cessation of hostilities. A
selected representative from each of the Central Government and the
Communist Party have called on General Marshall to discuss the terms
and execution of such agreement.
- 2.
- The problem at hand covers only the immediate aspects of the terms
and implementation of the armistice and is a military problem. It
must not be confused with the broader aspects such as integration of
the Central Government and Communist Armies, civil rule in occupied
areas, etc. which are matters for discussion in the Political
Consultative Council.
- 3.
- The necessary steps to effect and secure a cessation of
hostilities appear to be as follows:
a. Cease Fire Orders
Field orders containing cease fire instructions to the two armies in
question should be dispatched simultaneously. The field orders to the
Central Government troops should be signed by the Generalissimo and that
to the Communist troops by Mao Tse-tung. Such orders should include the
necessary instructions to insure proper action until establishment of
the executive headquarters hereinafter mentioned. They should definitely
include the order to cease destruction of communication lines, the
cessation of troop movements within China except those Nationalist
Forces destined for Manchuria, and such other instructions as may be
necessary to establish the desired state of tranquility in the battle
areas until further orders can be issued. Preparation of actual field
orders is of course a function of the respective Chinese organizations.
The important aspects of such field orders will probably be drafted by
the committee of three (General Marshall, the representative of the
Nationalist Government and the representative of the Communist
Government) for submission to the Generalissimo and Mao Tse-tung for
their approval. The pertinent portion of these directives should
therefore be prepared immediately for use by General Marshall in his
discussions.
b. Formation of Executive
Headquarters
An executive headquarters will be required to carry out on the ground,
the implementation of the terms of the armistice and perform such other
functions as described herein. The headquarters should [Page 5] be composed of one member designated by the
Central Government, one member designated by the Communist party and one
American designated by General Marshall with the American to act as the
chairman. In addition to the above, an executive section must be
organized preferably under the supervision of an American officer, to
carry out and implement the decisions of the executive headquarters.
The executive headquarters must be organized and located in a central
position within the present lines of conflict at the earliest possible
date. Its location must be determined by its proximity to the
headquarters of both armies as well as near the center of gravity of
important lines of communication within North China. It must have
sufficient American representation to permit the dispatch of combined
Chinese and American delegates to the numerous army and communication
points of conflict. It must have the required transportation, ground and
air, to allow rapid means of transit of all of its members. It must have
a signal organization to carry out efficiently and with security, radio
communications with its outlying command posts, General Marshall in
Chungking, and theater headquarters in Shanghai. It must be provided
with its own immediate security and be furnished necessary housing and
office space as required.
In establishing the above organization, plans must be prepared not only
to cover the American participation, but the entire organization, and
should include organization, location, strength, and operating
procedure. The executive headquarters will function under the executive
order of the Generalissimo. It shall make recommendations to the
Generalissimo on such immediate problems as restoration of
communications, to include formation of the required military police,
acceptance of Japanese surrenders, initiation of repatriation of the
Japanese from North China, etc. While this committee must function under
the order of the Generalissimo, it is understood that agreements reached
by the executive headquarters will be confirmed and approved by the
Generalissimo so that the executive headquarters will be in effect a
military agency with plenipotentiary powers.
c. Governmental Directive to the
Executive Headquarters
There must be prepared immediately an executive order which will be
issued by the Generalissimo establishing the executive headquarters in
b above. It should define in general terms
its functions and responsibilities. Simultaneously with this executive
order, a public statement should be made by the Generalissimo announcing
the establishment of such an executive headquarters, the members
thereof, and the general powers conferred thereon.
[Page 6]
[Annex 1]
Draft Memorandum Prepared by the Staff of
General Marshall
To His Excellency, The
Generalissimo:
Subject: Cessation of Hostilities.
In conformance with the agreements entered into by the National
Government of China and the Chinese Communist Party, it is desirable
that cease firing orders be issued at once and simultaneously by
yourself and by Chairman Mao Tse-tung. If this suggestion meets with
your approval it is recommended that identical orders along the
lines of the draft which follows be issued by you and by Chairman
Mao Tse-tung at an agreed time on an agreed date.
The text of the proposed draft order follows:
“All units, regular, militia, irregular and guerrilla of the
National Armies of the Republic of China are ordered to
carry out the following directive, as of ___(hour) hours, on
___(day) ______(month) of the ___(year) year of the
Republic:
- a.
- All hostilities will cease immediately.
- b.
- All movements of forces within China proper and
Manchuria will cease with the exception of movements
of forces of the National Government of the Republic
of China into and in Manchuria for the purpose of
re-establishing Chinese sovereignty. There also may
be the purely local movements necessary for supply,
administration and housekeeping.
- c.
- Destruction and interference with lines of
communications will cease and you will clear at once
blocks placed against movement along land lines of
communications.
- d.
- For the time being all units will maintain their
present positions.
- e.
- Additional instructions and orders will be issued
to you later.
Signed Chiang Kai-shek”
A similar memorandum14 is
being submitted to Mr. Chou En-lai for transmittal to Chairman Mao
Tse-tung.
[Annex 2]
Draft Plan Prepared by the Staff of General
Marshall15
The Executive
Headquarters
Preamble
By joint agreement, we, Chiang Kai-shek, President of the Republic of
China, and Mao Tse-tung, Chairman of Central Committee, Chinese [Page 7] Communist Party, do establish
as of _______(date) an Executive Headquarters empowered to implement
the agreements for cessation of hostilities.
Mission
The Executive Headquarters established by this order will implement
the agreed policies. The Headquarters will submit recommendations
covering necessary additional subsidiary agreements to insure more
effective implementation of the cessation of hostilities orders; to
include disarmament of the Japanese forces, restoration of lines of
communication and coordination of the movement of Japanese to the
coast for repatriation. The formal instructions unanimously agreed
upon by the three representatives will be issued in the name of the
President of the Republic of China.
Jurisdiction
The Executive Headquarters will exercise control for the above stated
purposes only of operations and movement over all regular, militia
and irregular forces, Central Government and Chinese Communist,
within the borders of China proper, French Indo-China north of 16
degrees, Hainan, Formosa, and Manchuria.
Organization
The Executive Headquarters will consist of three representatives with
authority to vote, and to negotiate among themselves; one to
represent the Chinese National Government; one to represent the
Chinese Communist Party Government and one to represent the United
States of America. The United States Representative will be the
chairman of the group.
The Headquarters will have within itself as its implementing agency
an operating group to be called the Executive Section composed of
the number of officers and men required to supervise in the field
the various agreements, and to render the required reports. Chinese
Representatives shall be equally divided between the National
Government and the Chinese Communist Party.
There will be included within the Executive Headquarters the
necessary secretarial staff, and housekeeping sub-sections to
support the Headquarters.
Housing and Supply
The National Government will furnish adequate living and office
accommodations for the Executive Headquarters. The National
Government will also furnish the subsistence for this
Headquarters.16
[Page 8] Local security of the
Representatives will be furnished by small units from forces of each
party as circumstances render convenient.
Location
The Executive Headquarters will be located at Peiping.
Procedure
The Executive Headquarters will operate as the executives of the
National Government, the Chinese Communist Party, and the United
States respectively.
The three Representatives shall each have one vote. All action must
be by unanimous agreement. Either the National Government or the
Chinese Communist Party may, through its head or through its
accredited representatives with the Executive Headquarters veto any
proposed action, order or recommendation.
The Executive Headquarters will issue the necessary formal orders,
directives, and instructions in the name of the President of the
Republic of China.
Daily reports will be rendered to the President of the Republic of
China and to the Chairman of the Central Committee, Chinese
Communist Party.
The Executive Headquarters will operate through its Executive
Section.
The Director of the Executive Section will be an United States Army
Officer.
The Executive Section will supervise the publication and
dissemination of all orders, directives, and instructions to all
forces concerned.
The Executive Section will dispatch supervisory and reporting teams
as required to insure proper implementation of the policies and
agreements.
The National Government, the Chinese Communist Party, and the United
States may each maintain independent signal communications.
Duration of Authority
The Executive Headquarters shall remain in existence and operate
under the authority contained in this order until there is a change
by amendment or until the joint order is rescinded by the President
of the Republic of China or the Chairman of the Executive Council of
the Chinese Communist Party, or their authorized representatives
after due notification to the other party.
[Page 9]
[Annex 3]
Draft Memorandum Prepared by the Staff of
General Marshall
To His Excellency, The
Generalissimo:
Subject: Organization of Executive Headquarters.
The approval by Your Excellency and Chairman Mao Tse-tung of the
directive to cease hostilities makes it mandatory that the Executive
Headquarters become operational at once.
The Executive Headquarters should be kept as small as possible in
order that it can commence functioning quickly, and handle without
delay matters referred to it for action.
Mr. Walter S. Robertson, the American commissioner of the Executive
Headquarters, will have initially a small staff of not to exceed
four persons: a political advisor, an aide, a stenographer, and a
translator.
The Operations Section, under Colonel Henry A. Byroade, must contain
the necessary personnel to operate various sub-headquarters in
critical areas, maintain communications, furnish the required office
and housekeeping overhead, etc. The American portion of this Section
is initially planned to consist of approximately ninety American
officers and enlisted men and thirty civilian employees.
Attached is the type of organization Colonel Byroade has planned for
the American portion of the Operations Section.17 I suggest that you organize,
as a matter of urgency, a similar group for the National
Government’s staff of the Operations Section.
Colonel Byroade will go to Peiping on ____(day) ________(month) 1946
to establish the Executive Headquarters and to assemble the American
personnel.
Mr. Robertson will be ready to depart on _____(day) _______(month)
1946. It would be most advantageous if the Commissioner of the
National Government, as well as the Communist Commissioner, could be
prepared for departure together. I propose providing my personal
C–54 aircraft for this purpose.
I wish to stress that the National Government and the Communist Party
staffs for the Executive Headquarters and Operations Section must be
organized immediately and sent to Peiping to join the three
Commissioners, Colonel Byroade, and their staffs. It appears to me
that the National Government and the Communist Party staffs should
[Page 10] consist of not more than
forty officers and ninety enlisted men. At least half of this
personnel should report to Peiping by ____(day) ______(month) 1946
and the remainder not later than one week following.
A similar memorandum18 is
being forwarded to Chairman Mao Tse-tung.
