Marshall Mission Files, Lot 54–D270
Minutes of Conference Between Lieutenant General Alvan C. Gillem, Jr., and General Chou En-lai at House 28, Chungking, April 9, 1946, 2 p.m.
General Gillem opened the meeting by stating that he had decided to leave one officer and 2 enlisted men at Yenan for the purpose of maintaining liaison with Communist Headquarters. General Chou En-lai stated that he appreciated this action.
General Chou asked General Gillem if he proposed to go to Manchuria under any circumstances. General Gillem stated that it was his earnest hope that a basic agreement in the form of additional instructions to the Field Teams could be reached prior to going to Manchuria, but in any event he personally proposed to go and hoped that General Chou and a National Government representative would accompany [Page 750] him. General Chou stated that he firmly believed, as indicated in yesterday’s Committee of Three meeting, that carrying out the intent of 27 March agreement for entry of Field Teams into Manchuria would solve the problem since there is contained in the agreement an injunction toward cessation of hostilities. General Chou added that this would provide for a temporary peace. A lasting peace could be arranged for between the two parties.
General Chou stated that he was sorry that he could not accept General Gillem’s proposal as to the additional instructions for the Field Teams1 because:
- (a)
- The points proposed were, in effect the same points to which he objected previously.
- (b)
- Although the basic agreement provides for movement of National Forces into and within Manchuria the basic agreement also says that hostilities will cease. Hostilities have not ceased.
- (c)
- Government forces are not in a position to occupy some places being evacuated by the Russians. If it is argued that only Government forces can take over such places, the Communists must retaliate by asking why their forces also cannot take over.
- (d)
- Communists fought Japanese during the Japanese aggression, and should enjoy comparative rights with Government forces which now enjoy a favored position due to the support rendered them during the “Hurley2 and Wedemeyer regime”.
General Gillem countered by informing General Chou that he was apprehensive as to a peaceful solution in Manchuria in the absence of a firm basis for continued operation of the Field Teams.