Marshall Mission Files, Lot 54–D270

Memorandum by General Marshall to the President of the Chinese Executive Yuan (Soong)

OSE 91

Dear Dr. Soong: In view of continued advances of Government troops in Manchuria and the absence of any action by the Generalissimo to terminate the fighting, other than the general terms he dictated in his letter (via Madame Chiang) of May 24, I feel that I must clarify my position without further delay. Therefore, I would appreciate your transmitting to him, with urgent priority, the following message from me:

“The continued advances of the Government troops in Manchuria in the absence of any action by you to terminate the fighting other than the terms you dictated via Madame Chiang’s letter of May 24, are making my services as a possible mediator extremely difficult and may soon make them virtually impossible.”