Marshall Mission Files, Lot 54–D270
Notes of Meeting Between General Marshall and General C. P. Lee95 at No. 5 Ning Hai Road, Nanking, October 7, 1946, 10 a.m.
| Also present: | Capt. Soong |
General Li stated he learned from this morning’s paper that the current situation is turning for the better. This new hope is attributed to the long conferences held yesterday between Doctor Stuart, General Marshall and Generalissimo Chiang, and the meeting between Mister Wang Ping-nan and Doctor Stuart. As a result, a letter was sent to General Chou En Lai by the Communist Delegation here.
General Marshall commented that he and Doctor Stuart have done their best but they still foresee serious difficulties in reaching agreement by both sides. Doctor Stuart felt the present complete mistrust on both sides could be termed as psychopathic.
General Marshall stated his belief that although the Communist Party would like to trust him, it honestly could not, because the Communists are thoroughly convinced that he favors the National Government and does not aggressively endeavor to persuade them to a cessation of hostilities, also that he favors of U. S. Government aid to them.
Although the Communists have a deep respect for Doctor Stuart’s integrity, they are beginning to think that Doctor Stuart is taking orders from the U. S. Government, which is totally untrue. This [Page 306] mistrust against the U. S. was built up due to various types of aid given to the Chinese, the last of which was the recent Surplus transaction. Now it has gotten to the point where the Communists suspect every proposal made by Doctor Stuart and General Marshall. At present, negotiations are centering on the Kalgan issue which is relatively unimportant compared to the big issue of the State Council.
General Li stated that he had seen Mister Hu Lin, the editor of Ta Kung Pao who expressed willingness to participate in the committee proposed by him (See enclosure). Mr. Hu would like to hear from General Marshall as to what he should do. General Li also mentioned that although Doctor Wu I-fang96 is receptive to the idea, she is unwilling to participate due to the delicate nature of the task.
General Marshall then stated that this group might be organized to assist Doctor Stuart and General Marshall in their mission. He mentioned Mr. Mo Teh-hui97 as a possible candidate since Mr. Mo seems to enjoy the trust from both sides. He asked General Li if it might be possible for Mister Mo to act as chairman of the group. He also stated that Mr. Chang98 and Mr. Tung both are on Doctor Stuart’s committee, and that some other persons should substitute [for] them. Then General Li suggested Shao Li-tze for the Government and Mister Li Wei-han for the Communist Party. General Marshall asked General Li to be the secretary of the committee, and the latter accepted. General Marshall suggested that the group might be called the American Advisory Group.
General Marshall closed the meeting by asking General Li to give him some estimate of Mo Teh-hui’s capacity and influence.
- Gen. Chen-pien Lee, Director of the Serum Institute of the Chinese Ministry of National Defense.↩
- Miss Wu Yi-fang, president of Ginling College, Nanking, and member of the Presidium of the Chinese People’s Political Council.↩
- Member of the Presidium of People’s Political Council.↩
- Chang Li-sheng, Chinese Minister of Interior.↩
- Added at General Marshall’s suggestion.↩
- Added at General Marshall’s suggestion.↩
- Added at General Marshall’s suggestion.↩