Marshall Mission Files, Lot 54–D270: Telegram
Brigadier General Henry A. Byroade to Lieutenant General Alvan C. Gillem, Jr.
1289. Developments since 128541 follow. Cannot get agreement to dispatch field teams until Saturday.42 Communists cannot produce personnel. Weather has prevented picking them up at outlying stations for past several days. Nationalists say that the Generalissimo’s Headquarters at Chinchow has received no word from the Generalissimo of any agreement on Manchuria and that they cannot deal with Executive Headquarters until such word is received.
Here is my plan to start ball rolling. I will leave here tomorrow for Mukden stopping enroute at Chinchow. General Yeh, Communist commissioner, has wired the top Communist leader in Manchuria, General Lin Piao, that he is to come to Mukden for conference with me. By return wire Lin Piao is to designate airfield where he can be picked up for lift to Mukden. On same day, probably Sunday, if we are able to get Lin Piao in Mukden etc., will have General Cheng, military commander of Gimo’s headquarters at Chinchow, brought into Mukden. Personnel and equipment for teams will begin arriving Mukden Saturday.
Feel one day’s delay on arrival of teams not critical if this plan to get commanders together is going forward. By time we get them [Page 713] together I hope for more instructions along lines which will be presented by Robertson.43 If such instructions have not arrived I will try to hold commanders together, stop fighting, and radio Chungking direct the answers we need.
This plan will be put in effect only if I can be assured that commanders listed above will meet with me in Mukden. Communists here have already acted in this respect. Request you insure without delay that Generalissimo inform Chinchow of Manchuria agreement and get me quick answer.
For your own info[rmation] I am certain Nationalists are stalling hoping to take city of Changchun by force before our arrival as they fear Executive Headquarters will stop all movement. Robertson knows our stand in this. You must give us answer however.
[Here follows information relating to proposed air transportation for the movement of teams into Manchuria.]