Marshall Mission Files, Lot 54–D270: Telegram
Mr. Walter S. Robertson to General Marshall
2942. Your [you are?] referred to 2872 which outlined in detail the steps taken to correct team conditions in Jehol Province. Message from American team members today and from Colonel Drake who accompanied Communist General Li on his mission to correct team conditions indicate the following:
Communist[s] still refuse to send representative to Team 26 at Chao-Yang upon excuse of lack of radio set and interpreter for his use. Offer was made of use of American radio and interpreter which was refused. This offer has been repeated several times during the last few weeks. Communist[s] have made decision that their member of Team 2 at Chihfeng who has been absent in Chengte for a long [time] will return to join the team [apparent omission] insist, however, that he move by vehicle instead of utilizing the aircraft that was offered for this purpose. They have stipulated that even after arrival of this Communist member at Chihfeng that this team will not be allowed to investigate the alleged violations of troop movements and fighting in the critical zone between Ping-Chuan and Pei-Piao. They state that Team 26 at Chao-Yang can make these investigations when the Communist member arrives there. The Communist General Li who was to rectify all conditions in Jehol refused to visit Chihfeng although late reports from there still indicate our team is under restriction by armed guards. Efforts of Team number [Page 867] 11 at Chengte are still balked by refusal of Communist Party member to accompany investigation on the reason that he has not heard of any violations in the area in question and considers it unnecessary to investigate. The American representatives in Jehol feel that the Communist Party is attempting to block all investigations in that area until after their troops movements and attacks can be accomplished. They believe Communist Party troop movements converging on Ping-Chuan are of such magnitude that a large concentration is under way in that area and a pending attack of considerable proportion is indicated.
Upon receipt of the above information we again visited General Yeh in his quarters. He offered no excuse for the attitude and action of the Communist[s] in Jehol. Informed him that situation was one which the Communist Party themselves would have to correct, that we had repeatedly requested action and offered assistance and facilities towards that end. He [We?] asked what we could [do] without avail and the only course left was to report the situation to you in detail for action in Nanking. He agreed.
The intention of the Communist[s] in Jehol Province are obvious. There is no doubt that they are attempting to move across the National Government supply line. This move would make their victory in Manchuria virtually complete. Only the inferior Port of Ying-kao would remain and it is doubtful if the National Government could hold this port from Communist forces in southeastern Manchuria. National Government reports from General Tu Li-ming indicate that very serious fighting involving large numbers is now in progress in the Chao-Yang area. No action can be taken, of course, upon surmises and reports of conflict that cannot be confirmed. The deliberate obstruction of team operations in Jehol during the past month is however about matter of fact which we believe justifies the strongest action possible by you with Chou En-lai. We are taking action here on a flagrant case where the Communist member of team enroute after many weeks of delay to the besieged city of Yung-Nien north of Hsin Hsiang on the Peiping–Hankow railway stopped enroute with the entire Communist section, refused to enter city or attend any meetings. He turned out to be the commander of the forces besieging the city and whose removal together with the National Government commander within the city had been strongly recommended by a previous team. Late National Government report tonight also indicates that all Communist members of the senior team at Tsinan have left the team and that attack upon this large and important city appears imminent. We are checking this tonight with the American team member in that location.
[Page 868]Also as an item of interest, that National Government Branch here has long predicted the present Communist movement in Jehol. General Tsai recently gave Byroade a report obtained in same manner as those he showed you in Nanking which indicated that General Chu Teh in Yenan had ordered offensive [apparent garble] of Great Wall and Communist team member has been instructed not to allow team interference.