Marshall Mission Files, Lot 54–D270
Minutes of Meeting Between General Marshall and General Yu Ta-wei at 5 Ning Hai Road, Nanking, June 20, 1946, 9:30 a.m.
| Also present: | Coloney Caughey |
General Marshall asked General Yu’s ideas as to what might be an appropriate extension of the present 15-day truce agreement and General Yu replied, “1 day”. General Marshall indicated that this would not be sufficient since there are many unresolved matters to take up, for example, the number of Communist divisions in Manchuria, the American authority for final decision, stipulations regarding Jehol, Chahar and Shantung and modification of the 25 February reorganization agreement.
General Marshall pointed out to General Yu that his approach was not realistic and that it was probably based on his feeling that the U. S. would support a civil war in China. General Marshall stated emphatically that “it would not”; that “U. S. would not back a Chinese civil war.” General Yu Ta Wei asked what would happen if civil war broke out after the 23rd of June. Specifically he wanted to know what would happen to the Marines, the 7th Fleet and other U. S. help, economic and military. General Marshall replied that the Marines would probably be withdrawn; that the Seventh Fleet, although possibly still in China waters, would be removed; that U. S. I assistance including lend lease, surplus property, loan, military requisitions probably would be cut off; that he did not know what disposition might be made of MAG.28
General Yu then brought up the question of American authority for final decision and stated that some sort of an arrangement was absolutely necessary and suggested the following concession which might be agreeable to the Communists:
“In case of disagreement as to interpretation of the agreements or supervision of their execution, a majority, rather than unanimous, vote would determine.”
General Yu pointed out that this concession made no mention of the American. General Marshall stated that he did not think that this [Page 1106] would be acceptable to the Communists unless it were altered to indicate that a majority vote was applicable only in cases where reconsideration of the agreements was necessary by the Committee of Three.
General Marshall indicated that it would probably be necessary, as a basis of further discussion, to consider the following matters: Delete the stipulations regarding Jehol, Chahar and Shantung province and include these matters in the redisposition of forces; move one additional army into North China during the first phase and a second additional army during the second phase rather than moving both additional armies in during the first phase; consider giving Communists control of certain railways; give Communists Chihfeng; and extend the 15-day truce agreement at least 5 days.
- Military Advisory Group.↩