Marshall Mission Files, Lot 54–D270
Memorandum by General Chou En-lai to General Marshall
Dear General Marshall: I just received report from General Fang Fang, Communist representative of Field Team 8, that on June 2, 1946, the 6th day following the commencement of Communist evacuation movement, Nationalist 457th Regiment of 153rd Division had in a sudden move attacked Communist forces at Nanshetung on the southern bank of the East River, who were en route to Tapeng [Page 708] Peninsula, resulting in the capture of 7 Communist armed personnel, missing of another five, and killing of Commander Wang Lin. During this raid the Communists suffered a loss of one machine-gun, 9 rifles, 27,000 CNC, and the knapsacks and bedrolls of forty men.
While your attention is drawn to this agreement-violating action of the Nationalist troops, you are also requested to communicate to General Hsu Yung-chang that such actions should be stopped at once. In the meantime I have also instructed General Fang Fang to file a protest to the Nationalist Headquarters at Canton.33
- In his memorandum No. OSE 142, June 10, to General Hsu Yung-chang, General Marshall gave in detail the Communist charge, adding: “This movement of Communists from Mirs Bay is an agreed troop movement. I have provided two United States Navy LSTs to facilitate this movement. I request that you take the necessary action to insure that there is no further interference with this evacuation of Communists.”↩