Marshall Mission Files, Lot 54–D270
Minutes of Meeting Between General Marshall and Dr. Stuart at No. 5 Ning Hai Road, Nanking, October 2, 1946, 11:45 a.m.
| Also present: | Colonel Hutchin |
Dr. Stuart opened the conversation by stating that the Generalissimo had sent for him this morning to ask him if he would bring to General Marshall a verbal report of that which he intends to send over this [Page 269] afternoon by letter.36 The Generalissimo stated that he was aware of General Marshall’s embarrassment in the present situation; that he understood it, and understood why General Marshall was tired of it all. The Generalissimo stated that he always kept in mind General Marshall’s problems.
As to policy, at the present time, the Generalissimo felt it was absolutely essential to national welfare that Kalgan come under Government control. If the Communists would withdraw, that would be so much better. If they didn’t withdraw, it would probably take Government forces 10 to 15 days to take the city by force of arms.
The Generalissimo considered Kalgan was essential to both the welfare of Manchuria and of North China. He felt that if it were in Government hands, it would prevent considerable further military action on the part of the Communists.
The Generalissimo also told Dr. Stuart that he would issue a cease fire order as soon as the Kalgan battle was over, provided that the Communists would agree to the simultaneous meeting of both the informal Five Man Committee and the Committee of Three, would agree to the disposition of the 18 Communist divisions, and would give a list of their delegates to the National Assembly.
In reply to direct questions by General Marshall, Dr. Stuart stated he told the Generalissimo of General Marshall’s concern over the continuation of fighting on an ever increasing scale. Dr. Stuart told him that General Marshall’s opinion was that the current negotiations were merely a cloak for the military operations and as such, he was put in the most untenable position, one which General Marshall felt he could not continue. Dr. Stuart also told the Generalissimo that he personally sympathized with General Marshall’s views. The U. S. Government could not continue being a party to negotiations that served as a cover-up for military campaigns nor could the U. S. favor one faction in opposition to the other. In fact, the United States had now been put in the position of seeming to favor the Nationalist side by these recent actions of the Government.
General Marshall then stated to Dr. Stuart that he would not negotiate while a cold-blooded battle for Kalgan was going on and that the Generalissimo should not expect any mediation when this is the case. The Generalissimo’s statement had about convinced General Marshall that it was now time for the U. S. to recall him from China.
The Generalissimo was certainly following a definite policy of force, but under the cover of protracted negotiations. He had now completely reversed his previous agreement of permitting the Communists to retain possession of Kalgan, which was his one concession to the Communists during the negotiations last June. Now Kalgan was the [Page 270] prerequisite to negotiations. General Marshall had taken issue with the Generalissimo on June 30 on practically everything he proposed doing and has done. General Marshall’s and Dr. Stuart’s proposal for a State Council was done purely to find some wedge which would open the way for progress in negotiations.
It was an intolerable situation for the U. S. Government to have General Marshall in the role of a mediator while the Government conducted military operations. It looked like the time had arrived for a show-down.
Dr. Stuart stated that Madame Chiang had come in during their conversation and said much of what the Generalissimo had already said. She explained some of the Generalissimo’s difficulties in dealing with people under him who were morally dishonest themselves and were prone to reverse their adopted position if such would meet the whim of the moment. Madame asked if General Marshall felt that the hostilities had gone on longer than intended, if he felt that negotiations were a cloak for military operations, after which she went on with reasons why Kalgan should come into Government control. Dr. Stuart replied in the affirmative and stated that he concurred in General Marshall’s view.
- See infra.↩