Foreign Relations of the United States, 1946, The Far East: China, Volume X

Marshall Mission Files, Lot 54–D270

Redraft of Suggested Statement by Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek ⁶⁷

undated

In my October 10th broadcast to the nation, I stated that the Government has always adhered to the political solution of our domestic political problem and would not give up this attitude under whatever circumstances. I further stated that the cessation of hostilities had also been the consistent policy of the Government. As regards the developments since last June, I have made the following statement:

“The Military Committee of Three met in June this year, primarily to seek agreement on the restoration of communications and the determining of the location of the Communist troops, thereby insuring the implementation of ‘Cease-fire’. The Committee was deadlocked on account of the obstinacy of the Communist Party.

“During the last three months I have advanced certain proposals for consideration and acceptance by the Communists, but these were all rejected. The Communists, subsequently, demanded the immediate convocation of the Military Committee of Three under General George C. Marshall.

“In the light of past events, no hope for improvement could be entertained from re-convening the Military Committee of Three, in the absence of agreement and understanding first on certain main fundamental issues. For this reason, I have strongly favored first convening the Five Man Group under United States Ambassador J. Leighton Stuart so that agreement might be reached by the Government and the Chinese Communist Party on the organization of the State Council, thus demonstrating their sincerity in observing jointly the resolutions of the Political Consultation Conference and using it as a basis for the implementation of those resolutions. Only after the re-establishment of such sincerity will there be new mutual-faith and mutual-aid.

“I also proposed that, simultaneously with the declaration of ‘ceasefire’, the Chinese Communist [Party] should put forward a list of their delegates to the National Assembly to be held on November 12, thereby showing their sincerity in co-operating with the Government.”

This serves to explain why I favored the meeting of the Five Man Group first for the realization of peace. But before October 10th, the Chinese Communists have rejected the proposal of October 2 by the Government and have also turned down the truce proposals from General Marshall and Ambassador Stuart. The Government, nevertheless, is not going to abandon its policy of “peaceful settlement” and will still seek for a settlement by mediation and consultation. Because the present political and military situation in the country must not be allowed to continue and thus intensifying the ordeal of the people; and we are to-day dealing with a political party which, being different from an ordinary political party, maintains a large army to support its political policies.

Therefore, I have also made it clear in my broadcast: “I wish to propose the convening of the twin committees at the same time” and “as soon as agreement is reached, the Government will immediately issue a ‘cease fire’ order, provided that the Chinese Communists call a halt to their military operations and cease their attacks on the National troops.”

In view of the new development of the situation and the earnest desire for peace by the whole nation, I now propose the following concrete and practical methods as the prerequisites under which the Government is prepared to act to secure a cessation of hostilities:

First, the Five Man Committee under the chairmanship of Doctor Stuart to meet immediately to discuss the re-organization of the National Government; and second, at the same time, the Committee of Three under the Chairmanship of General Marshall, with the following understandings:

(1) The opposing troops in close contact to be separated in accordance with the procedures tentatively reached by the Committee of Three in June for Manchuria.

(2) The restoration of communications to be immediately resumed in accordance with the agreement tentatively reached by the Committee of Three last June.

(3) The method for settling disagreements among the team members of the Executive Headquarters and Commissioners at Executive Headquarters to be in accordance with the agreement tentatively reached by the Committee of Three last June.

(4) The tentative agreement reached last June by the Committee of Three for the redisposition of troops in Manchuria to be confirmed and to be carried out according to a fixed schedule.

(5) The Government troops in North China and Central China to continue in occupation of localities now under their control until the agreement by the Committee of Three is reached for the redistribution, re-organization and demobilization of troops, Government and Communist alike for the unification of the armed forces in China.

(6) Whatever understanding is reached by the Five Man Committee headed by Doctor Stuart, it is to be confirmed by the Steering Committee of the PCC without delay.

(7) Questions of local government, excluding Manchuria, to be settled by the newly organized State Council.

(8) The Constitutional Draft Committee to be convened immediately and the agreed draft to be submitted to the National Assembly, through the National Government, as the basis for its action.

(9) Concurrent with the cessation of hostilities which is to be effected immediately following the agreement of the Communist Party to the foregoing procedure, that party is to announce its intention of participating in the National Assembly by publishing its lists of delegates thereto.

67. Given to General Marshall by Madam Chiang the evening of October 15.