Marshall Mission Files, Lot 54–D270

Memorandum by General Chou En-lai to Lieutenant General Alvan C. Gillem, Jr.

My Dear General Gillem:

1.
On arrival of the Communist members to the Manchurian field teams—Generals Jao Szu-shih,77 Hsu Kwang-ta, Keng Piao, Chang Ching-wu and their party numbering over forty men—at Mukden from Peiping at 13.00 April 2nd, and the leading members being escorted away by the U. S. officers, the Government Mukden Garrison Commander groundlessly detained the rest of the party numbering over 40 persons, and ordered them to fly back to Peiping on the same planes which have carried them to Mukden. Only through the interference of the U. S. officers, the Communist personnel was released after a three hours’ detention. The Communist representatives feel very indignant over this incident, and have thereupon lodged a protest to the Government authority.78
2.
As regards the sending of field teams to Manchuria, the agreement bearing that subject has been signed on March 27th, and General Byroade on flying to Mukden on March 30th has especially made a stop-over at Chinchow to interview General Hsiung Shih-hwei, Director of the Northeastern Generalissimo’s Headquarters. On the following day, he further conferred with General Peng Shou-sheng, Head of the Mukden command of the Northeastern Peace Preservation Headquarters, and Mr. Tung Wen-chi, Mayor of Mukden. Furthermore, the Central News has also repeatedly released informations from Mukden and Peiping reporting on the despatch of field teams and the departure of Communist members for Mukden. Therefore, Government officials cannot claim that they know nothing about the whole matter, and I am the more surprised to find that such a senseless accident to occur at the moment of our representatives’ arrival in Mukden. In view of the present situation, one feels obliged to suspect that such an action is aimed to delay the work of the field teams, and to facilitate the furtherance of the armed attacks and occupation.
3.
In view of this fact, I am lodging hereby a protest against this incident, and insist that the Committee of Three shall discuss this matter. I further propose that
a.
The Mukden Garrison Commander make a formal apology to the Communist representatives;
b.
Assurance be made to the Communist representatives and their party for their absolute safety and freedom of action in future.
c.
The field teams in Manchuria be instructed to proceed immediately to the points of conflict for making readjustments with a view to forestalling the aggravation of the situation.

I would appreciate your comments.

Sincerely yours,

[Signature in Chinese]
(
Chou En-lai
)
  1. Also known as Yao Shu-shih.
  2. In a memorandum of April 5, General Chou submitted to Lieutenant General Gillem a report on the incident, which he had received from General Yeh, Communist Commissioner at Executive Headquarters.