Marshall Mission Files, Lot 54–D270
Mr. Walter S. Robertson to General Marshall18
Dear General Marshall: As you must realize, it is now virtually impossible to obtain agreement on any level in Executive Headquarters involving corrective action.
I have discussed this paralyzing situation individually with the other two Commissioners. Both admit quite frankly that until agreements are reached in Nanking on the basic problems involved they are powerless to take any action which will jeopardize their respective positions either militarily or politically. They both think agreement will be reached ultimately and that it is highly important to keep the Executive Headquarters organization intact so that effective machinery will be available for implementation when needed. For this reason they consider we should at least continue to go through the motions of attempting to enforce our directives, but that we might as well be realistic and recognize the fact that the commanders in the [Page 1355] field are not going to obey our orders when it is against their interests to do so. Curiously enough, both Commissioners earnestly state that there can be no effective agreement in China until an understanding on the Chinese situation is reached between the United States and Russia.
We are doing everything possible to maintain the morale of our organization, both here and particularly in the field, under these frustrating circumstances.
With best wishes for you and Mrs. Marshall.
Sincerely yours,
P. S. Enclosed19 is type of propaganda now being distributed to Communist personnel, Executive Headquarters.