Marshall Mission Files, Lot 54–D270
Minutes of Conference Between General Marshall and General Chou En-lai, at General Marshall’s House, Nanking, May 4, 1946, 10 a.m.
| Also present: | Colonel Caughey |
| Captain Soong12 | |
| Mr. Chang |
General Marshall stated that he had received General Chou’s message13 concerning the critical situation North of Hankow and unless [Page 651] General Chou had objection, a copy of this message would be sent to General Yu Tai Wei for the Generalissimo’s eyes. General Marshall further stated that he would talk to the Generalissimo himself.
General Chou agreed and said that he heard of this situation while in Chungking. General Chou called on General Hsu Yung Chang and discussed the problem. General Chou said that his information indicated that General Pei Tsung Hsi, while touring from Hsuchou, through Kaifung, to Hsian was planning an all out attack on the Communist position between the fourth and ninth of May. General Chou further stated that General Pei not only planned for this attack but also planned to sabotage the railroads and blame the Communists. General Chou suggested to General Hsu while in Chungking, that they together should go to North Hupei. He added that he had received a telegram from Yenan to the effect that General Li, the commanding general of the Communist forces there had been instructed to defend himself; that in the meantime it is urged that representatives be sent there to prevent hostilities, but should this fail, the Communists would stage counter-attacks. General Chou continued by saying that Communists had been reported as “creating trouble” in Shantung Province near Nan-Tung but that he investigated that situation upon arrival in Nanking to find it false.
General Marshall stated that the trouble in Hupeh is due south of Loshan. He said what he was trying to do is to locate the trouble area so that the representatives can go there immediately.
General Chou said that if they can get to Hankow they can get to Hsinyang by truck in one day’s time where the Government troops are being concentrated.
General Marshall informed General Chou that he would make certain there would be some responsible Kuomintang representative there with whom General Chou could deal. He also stated that he would arrange to have General Byroade there upon their arrival. He then asked General Chou what General Hsu had to say about the situation.
General Chou replied that General Hsu did not believe that attacks were being planned but that he would wire the Generalissimo. After General Chou’s explanation to General Hsu, the latter expressed personal willingness to visit the area.
General Marshall then stated that he wanted General Byroade and an extra team to go there in any event; that he would arrange for General Hsu to accompany General Chou from Nanking by airplane.
General Marshall then stated that movements probably were being undertaken by both sides and that the situation is becoming more serious every hour.
General Chou stated that the feeling among the Communists of mistrust and possible breakup does exist. However, the Communist side [Page 652] has no intention of causing a breakup. The Communists have always wanted cessation of hostilities and unconditional truce in Manchuria. In China proper, they have not started any provocation or any attack on towns even occupied by National troops, though they have encircled some of these towns for a long time. The misunderstanding toward the Americans, particularly among lower members, is due to lack of American personnel at various places to see for themselves. The Americans are located only at the places where National Government forces are. This is the cause for the greatest dissatisfaction among the lower ranks in the Communist Party.
General Marshall then stated that most of the information came to him from the Communists who had requested that their names be withheld. Communists have never objected to any unfairness in any local settlement by any field team. What they objected to most was the equipping and transporting of the Kuomintang troops.
General Chou then said that this is very true. At first Kuomintang troops were sent to Northeast to take over from Russians, but now they were sent to fight a civil war. This feeling is not only present among the lower party members but higher ranks as well.
General Marshall then asked if there was any other problem General Chou would like to bring up tonight.
General Chou expressed thanks for the help General Marshall had given him in locating a house in Nanking; the lending of General Marshall’s personal plane which made the trip from Chungking to Nanking extremely comfortable and enabling the Communists to set up a radio station the night of their arrival. He further stated that they must try their best to prevent the Hopeh [Hupeh?] situation from enlarging and also wished in the future to exchange opinions and viewpoint on the Manchuria issue although at the present he had not yet found any new solution.
General Marshall said he wanted General Chou to know that he got himself into an embarrassing position by lending him cars while he (General Marshall) borrowed cars from the Central Government. General Marshall then said that he would prefer to go to Hankow with General Chou but he did not think it wise to get out of touch with the Generalissimo at the present time. Therefore, he had to leave it to General Byroade at Hankow and himself here. General Marshall said he wanted General Chou to tell General Byroade that it is essential for them to go to the Communist Headquarters. Transportation may have to be borrowed from the Government; a very delicate matter due to the natural resentment on the part of the senior Government officials toward the Communist accusation in this respect.
General Chou then said that he appreciated all the efforts General [Page 653] Marshall had made and understood the difficulties he had encountered, particularly after his arrival here at Nanking. General Chou stated that if General Marshall wished to speak to him further, he would be available tonight or tomorrow morning.