Marshall Mission Files, Lot 54–D270
Memorandum by General Chou En-lai to General Marshall21
Dear General Marshall: Chairman Mao Tze-tung and Commander-in-chief Chu Teh cabled to me that they had issued the following order to all Communist field commanders on July 1:
“At any place, if the Nationalist troops do not attack our force, our army shall not take the initiative in attacking them. But in case of [Page 1358] being attacked, our army shall resolutely take self-defensive measures in order to protect lives and properties of the people and to maintain law and order of the democratic governments.”
The message continued that the Communist field commanders had been in receipt of the order and had put it into execution on July 2.
(
- Repeated by General Marshall to Mr. Robertson at Peiping in telegram No 1112, July 14; not printed.↩