Marshall Mission Files, Lot 54–D270: Telegram
Brigadier General Henry A. Byroade to General Marshall
2872. Upon return I delivered to General Yeh your personal message regarding movement of teams and the agreement signed in Nanking.73 The next morning I again saw him at his home on status of teams in Jehol province. All three teams in that area are completely blocked either by absence of Communist team member or refusal to investigate any report against their own side. This has been a most serious case as Communist team member had openly refused to obey agreed directives of this headquarters. In the meantime large scale troop movements and fighting have been reported within Jehol which have been confirmed to our satisfaction by our team members even though they have been so restricted in movement that satisfactory investigation has been impossible. I requested General Yeh to send a senior officer of his branch to Jehol to correct such conditions. Immediately he agreed and Major General Li accompanied by American and National officers are now in Jehol. This group is to carry absentee Communist team members now in Chengte to the other two [Page 866] team locations. Yeh admitted to me that the fault was not with the team members but that the local Communist commander had undoubtedly given them orders to remain absent or block team movement. He promised as well to correct this aspect. I found also upon my return that the National Government branch here would not agree to dispatch team to area of conflict just south of Peiping unless Jehol situation was corrected and a team was sent to Chefoo. As result of above action on Jehol compromise was reached to send team south of Peiping and an American observer to area of Chefoo as he can remain there and investigate past troop movements by talking to the great number of missionaries et cetera in the area. I am certain that a team would be called out of Chefoo very quickly after its arrival to investigate nearby conflicts. Suggest Caughey notify Colonel Pee of Chefoo arrangement as both the Generalissimo and General Hsu requested I take action to locate a team there. Will keep you informed of progress in attempt to secure unrestricted team movements.