Marshall Mission Files, Lot 54–D270
Minutes of Meeting Between General Chang Chih-chung and General Marshall, at House 28, Chungking, February 20, 1946, 5 p.m.
| Also present: | Colonel Caughey |
| Captain Eng | |
| Mr. Chang |
General Marshall thanked General Chang for coming on such short notice and stated that he had informed General Chou of his ideas with respect to establishing an elementary training school for those Communist forces to be integrated. General Marshall stated that General Chou had received this idea enthusiastically and he (General Marshall) was investigating the possibility of borrowing from General MacArthur sufficient qualified officers and non-commissioned officers to establish the school.11
General Marshall then asked General Chang what his ideas were with respect to dates and manner of integration. General Chang stated that the present dates and manner of integration appeared to him to be sound. General Marshall then asked General Chang what should be done if General Chou returned from Yenan with proposals that would further delay integration. General Chang stated that he would respect General Marshall’s decision in this regard. General Marshall then stated that the new army group organization would require adjustment in the location of the various armies and suggested that the deployment paragraph of the present paper be omitted. General Chang stated that he would prefer this paragraph to remain in and General Marshall replied that he would attempt to re-work the paragraph and send General Chang a copy. General Marshall then informed General Chang that General Chou was anxious to go to Manchuria when the Committee of Three made its Northern trip. General Marshall added that he would have to hold this for later decision since he did not want to give the Russians a new opportunity for conjecture and possible propaganda lines that might be injurious to his present mission. General Marshall then stated that he might decide in favor of going to Mukden if the Russians had withdrawn.
[Page 263]General Marshall then raised the question of sending a team into Manchuria in order to stop possible conflicts and to lay the ground work for demobilization. General Marshall stated that he felt sure General Chou’s desire to send a team to Yinkow was prompted by the fact that Chou needs U. S. and National Government assistance in handling his own people.
General Marshall stated that he had not come to a satisfactory solution with respect to MP’s and Gendarmes. General Marshall felt sure that the Communists would raise this point since it was their desire to make adequate provisions for alleviating military oppression over the people in time of peace.
General Marshall presented General Chang with a brief case.
General Marshall suggested that the new deployment not include a Communist army in Manchuria. General Chang stated that he was afraid that the Communists would accept but that he was afraid that they would later claim that the 18 divisions which they had been reduced to were for China and that they would have to have additional divisions for any reorganization in Manchuria. General Marshall stated that he would make adequate provision to preclude any such action.