Foreign Relations of the United States, 1946, The Far East: China, Volume IX

Marshall Mission Files, Lot 54–D270

Memorandum by General Chou En-lai to General Marshall

MM 050

Nanking, 22 June 1946.

General Fang Fang’s message from Canton dated June 19 and transmitted through Colonel Miller just came to my attention. I also understand that all the Communist evacuees have by now arrived at the staging area at Tapeng, pending embarkation on LSTs on June 26. Request therefore that you would kindly take the following actions on this matter:

1. That the Government military authorities be advised not to station more than one battalion at Tamshui and one company at Lung-kang as has previously been agreed upon, and that those troops would refrain themselves from taking any aggressive action.

2. That the U. S. vessels be instructed to stand by at Tapeng prior to June 26, ready to receive the Communist evacuees, should they not have already done so.

3. That Colonel Miller be instructed to watch closely the latest development in that area, and to take every precautionary measure to prevent any untoward incident.³⁶

[Signature in Chinese]

Chou En-lai

36. A notation stated that a message on June 22 was to be sent Admiral Cooke to the effect that General Marshall desired the Canton Communists to be evacuated at the earliest possible date consistent with safety.