Marshall Mission Files, Lot 54–D270
Memorandum by General Chou En-lai to General Hsu Yung-chang
According to reliable report received on April 15th, considerable movement of government troops and ammunition has recently taken place along the Paochi–Sian–Loyang–Chengchow line eastward, and planes have been assembled at Sian, specifically:
- a.
- 24 heavy and light tanks have been moved through Shanchow (west of Loyang) to Loyang on 10 April;
- b.
- The 6th Motor Supply Regiment has employed 50 trucks to carry ammunition through Sian eastwards;
- c.
- Several train loads of Nationalist troops, equipped with howitzers and U. S.-made army trucks have passed Paochi during these successive days toward the east of Sian;
- d.
- Early April, one new combat flight of Chinese Air Force, comprising 18 planes, appeared at the Sian airfield, and conducted thenceforth repeated reconnaissance over the vicinity of Sian.
Under the circumstances, that the hostilities in Manchuria has not been put to a stop, with skirmishes appearing here and there in China proper, the repeated illegal movement of Nationalist troops and ammunitions in China proper, apart from the large-scale troop movement into Manchuria, would gravely affect the situation in China proper, not to say, that the conflagration in Manchuria will be further flared up.
In view of the above I am lodging hereby a protest to the Government, requesting that such actions be stopped.