Foreign Relations of the United States, 1946, The Far East: China, Volume IX

Marshall Mission Files, Lot 54–D270

Memorandum by General Marshall to General Chou En-lai

OSE 139

Nanking , June 9, 1946.

Dear General Chou: General Hsu Yung Chang has just informed me that the Generalissimo received, on 8 June 1946, a message from General Tu Li-ming to the following effect:

At 3:00 o’clock in the afternoon of 7 June 1946, Communist forces attacked vigorously the National Garrison at Lafa. For this purpose the Communist Forces had moved southward on the Harbin-Tumen railroad. Also, that the attack increased in ferocity on the 8th.

I request that you urgently contact the appropriate field Commander in order to terminate this aggressive fighting.