Marshall Mission Files, Lot 54–D270
Memorandum by Brigadier General Henry A. Byroade to General Marshall
Attached is a copy of my paper on Changchun organization corrected to be
acceptable to General Chou. His views may be summarized as follows:
- 1)
- Organization must be headed by a group of three and not an
American.
- 2)
- He cannot agree on any stipulation allowing Americans to break
deadlocks on matters of team movement.
After considerable discussion he came out with a substitute subparagraph
3, which on first reading seems all right. In effect however, as he
understands and explained it, it would give me the authority only to
reiterate such instructions as come down to us from Nanking or
Peiping.
I am very reluctant to become tied down by a pair of Chinese opposites
whereby I shall be tied down all day and every day on continuous
discussions on all sorts of details. I could be much more effective in
the type organization I proposed.
In final showdown, if necessary, accept his organization, and his
substitute sub para 3 for last sentence original sub para 3, but retain
1st sentence that para on team movements as originally written.
[Annex]
We, General Hsu Yung-chang authorized representative of the National
Government, General Chou En-lai authorized representative of the
Chinese Communist Party, and General George C. Marshall direct that
the following message be dispatched to the three Commissioners at
Executive Headquarters and to the Advance Section of Executive
Headquarters at Changchun.
The
senior
American
Officer
in
the
Advance
Section
of
Executive
Headquarters
shall
have
the
title
of
Director
and
shall
fuction
as
the
direct
representative
of
the
three
Commissioners
at
Peiping.
He
will
be
assisted
by
a
group
of
three
with
titles
of
Chiefs
of
Staff
of
the
National
Government
Branch,
the
Communist
Party
Branch,
and
the
United
States
Branch
respectively.
They
shall
have
the
authority
to
[Page 1061]
vote
and
negotiate
among
themselves.
The
United
States
Chief
of
Staff
shall
be
invited
to
be
the
Chairman.
The advance section of Executive Headquarters will
be headed by a group of three commissioners with authority to
vote, and to negotiate among themselves; one to represent the
National Government; one to represent the Communist Party; and
one to represent the United States of America. The United States
commissioner shall be the chairman of the commissioners and
shall be concurrently the Director of Operations.
The details of the remainder of the organization of the advance
section shall be as prescribed by Director of Operations.
On all matters coming before the Advance Section for action, every
effort shall be made for solution of the problem by unanimous
agreement between the combined staff. In the event of disagreement
after reasonable attempt to arrive at unanimous agreement it shall
be within the authority of the Director
U. S. Commissioner at Changchun to take the
following action:
- 1)
- Refer important and urgent matters of policy direct to the
Committee of Three in Nanking for their action, with
information copy to the three Commissioners of Executive
Headquarters.
- 2)
- Refer normal and routine matters of policy to the three
Commissioners of Executive Headquarters for their
action.
- 3)
- Render
final
decision,
which
shall
be
obeyed
by
all
members
of
field
teams
and
Commanders,
regarding
Operational
matters
relating
to
movements
and
location
of
teams,
and
time
of
their
dispatch.
He
may
also
decide
disagreements
regarding
such
matters
as
have
previously
been
interpreted
or
agreed
to
by
the
Commissioners
of
Executive
Headquarters
in
Peiping.
- 3)
- Execute any instructions or orders of
the Committee of Three or the Three Commissioners of
Executive Headquarters at Peiping despite disagreement
among the other commissioners unless those instructions
or orders have been altered or revised by proper
authority.
Daily report of operations will be prepared within the staff of the
Advance Section and submitted to the Three Commissioners at Peiping
for inclusion in the daily Trusums of Executive Headquarters.
The provisions of this agreement shall be put in effect at 1200 hours
22 June 1946 and shall remain in effect until terminated by the
Committee of Three.
In the intervening period prior to the above date, this agreement
will be utilized as a basis for movement of personnel and
organization to permit full operations being assumed by 1200 hours,
June 22, 1946.
_______________________
General
Hsu Yung
Chang
_______________________
General Chou En-lai
Nanking, 14 June
1946.
__________________________
General G. C. Marshall
