Marshall Mission Files, Lot 54–D270
Memorandum by General Chou En-lai to General Marshall
Dear General Marshall: I most appreciate your kindness of transmitting to me the five papers26 prepared by the Government in relation to Army Reorganization in Manchuria. Apart from duly [Page 1104] referring them to Yenan, I wish first inform you in detail about the conclusion I myself have drawn as the result of a preliminary study:
1. Re Manchurian Annex
I wish to reaffirm our claim for 5 Communist divisions in Manchuria. We further propose that the division headquarters of these 5 divisions be located at Antung, Mutankiang, Tsitsihar, Taoan (Peicheng), and Harbin. These 5 divisions should not be considered as a part of the 9 Communist divisions assigned for China proper. Nor should 5 Government divisions be stationed at places under Communist control, such as Antung, Tunghwakai, Mutankiang, Harbin and Taoan (Peicheng). Their location should be reconsidered.
2. Re Government Stipulations Regarding North China
The Government stipulations are entirely disagreeable to us. If troop disposition for China proper should be stipulated, then that should constitute a separate transaction of the Military Sub-Committee. In such case, instead of specifying troops movement with respect to one party and restricted places only, a complete plan governing the disposition of both Nationalist and Communist armies should be worked out.
With reference to the vacation of towns and villages occupied after noon of June 7, the General Directive No. 627 of Executive Headquarters should be followed as the guiding principle for action. In accordance with that Directive, troops of both parties should vacate towns and villages they occupied after January 13, instead of restricting the vacation to troops of one party with respect to one particular province. In particular, it should be pointed out that June 7 was agreed as the commencing date for a 15-day cessation of aggressive actions governing Manchuria only, while in China proper the Cease Fire Order went into effect since January 14.
3. Re Readjustment in the Military Reorganization and Integration and Enclosure 2
We disagree with the arrangement of shifting the 2 Communist divisions from Central China to Manchuria. The detail comments are as follows:
- a.
- Article V—Except for the Manchurian portion, no change should be made.
- b.
- Article V, sections I and III—No change should be made.
- c.
- Article V, section II—Except for the Manchurian portion, which shall be as amended, the deployment of the armies, and the strength and the integration procedure of the Communist forces should undergo no change.
- d.
- Article V, section IV—Except for the Manchurian portion, which shall be as amended, the deployment of the armies, and the strength and the integration arrangement of the Communist forces should undergo no change.
(