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

Marshall Mission Files, Lot 54–D270

Draft Proposal for the Termination of Hostilities in Manchuria⁷

undated

On the basis of the orders of June 6, 1946 halting all advances, attacks and pursuits for a period of 15 days commencing at noon of June 7th, which will be continued in effect, we, the Committee of Three, announce the following instructions to govern a complete termination of hostilities in Manchuria:

a. The terms of 10 January 1946 for the cessation of hostilities will govern except as hereinafter specifically modified, or later directed by the Committee of Three.

b. Commanders of forces in close contact or engaged in actual fighting will immediately direct their troops to cease fighting and will seek to secure a local truce by establishing liaison with the opposing commanders, pending the arrival of a field team. They should both immediately withdraw their respective troops from close contact.

c. The readjustment of troops found to be in close contact or actually engaged in fighting will be directed by the field team on the ground by requiring the withdrawal for specified distances, normally 15 li, of one or both forces according to the circumstances. The local situation believed to have existed at noon of June 7, 1946 will be the basis for determining the readjustment of the troops involved. In the event of disagreement in the teams or at the advance section of Executive Headquarters at Changchun, the senior American Officer at Changchun will report the situation to Executive Headquarters at Peiping or to the Committee of Three at Nanking depending on the urgency of the situation.

d. All movements of Government or Communist troops of a tactical nature will cease. Administrative and supply movements as authorized in the original cease fire order of January 10, 1946, may be carried out if previously approved by a field team.

e. Within fifteen days after the issuance of this agreement, lists showing all units together with commanders of regiments and larger units, strength and locations in Manchuria will be submitted to the advance section of Executive Headquarters in Changchun.

f. The National Government will move no additional combat units to Manchuria. However, individual replacements are authorized for the purpose of bringing up to approved strength those units authorized in the basic plan for the reorganization and integration dated February 25, 1946, as hereafter amended.

g. Officers failing to carry out the terms of this agreement will be relieved and disciplined by their respective commanders.

7. Transmitted by General Marshall with his memorandum OSE 187, June 17, to Gen. Hsu Yung-chang as “similar to the one you have except that it now includes amendments suggested by General Chou En-lai”. See draft of June 13, p. 1044.