Office of the Historian

Marshall Mission Files, Lot 54–D270

Memorandum by General Chou En-lai to General Marshall

MM 046
Nanking, 19 June 1946.

Dear General Marshall: Enclosed and forwarded for your reference is an appeal issued by the Communist representatives of 30 field teams asking for security and freedom of action.

[Signature in Chinese]
(
Chou En-lai
)
[Page 1102]
[Enclosure]

Appeal of Communist Field Team Representatives

To: Commissioners Walter Robertson, Yeh Chien-ying, Cheng Kai-min; Gens. Byroade and Timberman of the Executive Headquarters; General G. C. Marshall, General Chou En-lai and General Hsu Yung-ch’ang of the Committee of Three in Nanking; Delegates of the Political Consultative Conference; Newspapers and associations:

Months have elapsed since the establishment of the Executive Headquarters. We, Communist representatives of the field teams have been laboriously undertaking the task of settling hostilities in spite of the handicaps and dangers we came across. It is our consistent desire to offer our utmost effort to lay the foundation of peace so that both parties will trust each other and the distance between them can be eliminated. Nevertheless, unexpected things happened. Agitated by the bellicose elements, Government troops garrisoning the various places repeatedly threatened the security and the freedom of the Communist team representatives. Following are the major incidents:

1.
On Feb. 20, Major Wang Pao-yu, member of the Tsinan field team, was arrested at Tsaoyuanshi station. Up to now his whereabouts is still unknown.
2.
On April 17, Communist interpreter Mr. Lin Chao-nan of Shih-chiachuang field team was imprisoned by the Kuomintang and starved for five whole days.
3.
On April 26, Kuomintang troops fired at Col. Wu Ke-wen, Communist representative of Kaomi field team, and he was shocked deaf. Wang Yueh, the interpreter was also wounded.
4.
On May 20, Lt. Col. Sin Kuan-wu, Communist deputy representatime in the Kaomi field team was arrested by the Kuomintang authority at Tsaichiachuang station. His present status is still unknown.
5.
On May 3, Col. Fu Chi-tze, Communist representative of the Potou field team, was beaten and insulted.
6.
On May 21, Col. Kan Chung-tou, Communist representative of Tsaochuang field team and interpreter Wu Wu-han were beaten by the Kuomintang with almost fatal wound. Col. Kan suffered three broken ribs. He was disabled for life, while Mr. Wu has not yet recuperated himself from his wounds.
7.
On June 11, Col. Mee Yung, Communist representative of the Yencheng field team, and his whole staff were kept in custody. Their present status is entirely unknown.
8.
On June 10, Lt. Col. Nee Shih-liang, Communist member of Hsuchow team, was publicly insulted at Suohsien.
9.
On June 9, the U. S. representative of Tsinan field team informed Communist representative Kuang that by order of the Kuomintang authority at Tsinan all Communist team members are restricted to their compound. Communist radio equipment there was forcibly taken away. On the same day, the Government ordered Mr. [Page 1103] Liu Chi-tsing and other members back to Communist area under their escort. No responsible Communist officer was allowed to accompany. Their present whereabouts is entirely unknown.

We can cite many more such cases of illegal arrest, inspection, restriction and guard. There is still no confirmed report about Major Wang Pao-yu, Lt. Col. Sin Kuan-wu, Col Mee Yung and the entire Communist team members of Yencheng field team. It is not known whether they are still alive or not.

All the above-listed incidents directly endanger the safety of the representatives, undermine peace, and make our work nearly impossible. Now that nine-tenths of the field teams are stationed in Government-controlled areas, any recurrence of such actions will block all efforts to win peace. Hence we demand that

1.
the Communist team members kept in custody be released immediately;
2.
the Government safeguard the security and freedom of the Communist team members;
3.
all the Government officers held responsible for these incidents be severely punished;
4.
the supreme authority of the National Government apologize publicly to the Communists and indemnify all their losses;
5.
the Government be held responsible in case any untoward accident befalls the arrested Communist team members;
6.
the Communist radio station at Tsinan be restored;
7.
the Executive Headquarters issue a joint communiqué on the above-listed demands.

It is our earnest hope that due consideration will be given to the above-mentioned demands so that truce work can be carried on smoothly, and that people of all circles will strive for the freedom of person, democracy, and peace, and urge the Government to implement the Four Promises and the Three Agreements.

Signed by the Communist Representatives of 30 field teams.
(issued on June 10, 1946)