Marshall Mission Files, Lot 54–D270: Telegram
Mr. Walter S. Robertson to Lieutenant General Alvan C. Gillem, Jr.
1611. Be your 451. I fully appreciate the extreme difficulty of your position. However may I suggest that, lacking specific instructions from General Marshall, there be no recession from our firm position that cease fire order January 10th applies to Manchuria in all respects. In that agreement the Communists specifically recognize the right to move National Armies into and within Manchuria to restore Chinese sovereignty. The movement of Communist troops into Manchuria after January 13th violates both the letter and spirit of that agreement. I strongly feel that it would be better to reach no agreements pending General Marshall’s return that [than?] to make compromises on principle which might later prove to be embarrassing in his negotiations. The Communist contention that the agreement on demobilization and reorganization of the armies, to be effective at the end of 12 and 18 months respectfully [respectively], limits the movement of National troops into Manchuria to five armies is in my opinion an absurdly indefensible position and should be strongly resisted whenever and wherever used. The same agreement is being advanced in Peiping and Mukden as well as Chungking and evidently is the line laid down by Yenan.