Marshall Mission Files, Lot 54–D270: Telegram
General Marshall to President Truman 57
1320. Dear Mr. President: The recent statement by Dr. Stuart and myself was to bring both sides, along with the public in China, to a realization of the crisis and impending chaos and to excite foreign and local pressure for termination of hostilities. Apparently it has had something of that effect though interpreted from Peiping by irresponsible or notoriety seeking correspondents as signaling the closing up of Executive Headquarters and my early withdrawal.
We have encountered great and anticipated difficulty with combined investigation of Marine–Communist clash at Anping. Delaying tactics, vicious propaganda, et cetera, have been the order of the day. [Page 50] Finally, on my calling Commissioner Robertson to Nanking and also notifying Chou that I would not tolerate further delays and misrepresentations, an agreement on procedure was reached yesterday, Wednesday. Chou and I, with Mr. Robertson and Communist Commissioner from Peiping conferred today (Thursday August 15) for 3 hours. In fact the conference was still in session without lunch when I left at two o’clock.
I am writing this in a plane en route to see Generalissimo at Kuling, which I left a week ago. He has just received your message58 because of strike delays, and is pressing me to return.
I have characterized Communist tactics regarding Anping in emphatic terms and served notice on Chou that if delays are resumed I will withdraw the American representative and make a public statement. My delays in taking such justified action has been that it plays directly into the hands of the small group in the Kuomintang Party who are blocking me in my efforts to terminate fighting. Admiral Cooke of the Seventh Fleet earnestly desires me to take public action in defense of the Marines, demanding apology, et cetera, but I have felt that I would sacrifice too much in other direction by doing this, though I may be forced to such action within a few days. The tragedy is that it will virtually terminate Executive Headquarters and result in a general military conflagration.
Generalissimo’s last terms to the Communists, transmitted by Dr. Stuart on his return from Kuling last Tuesday, were more exacting than those of June 30 when the final stalemate was reached. I made a very frank résumé of the situation to Generalissimo last Thursday on the afternoon of my return to Nanking, emphasizing the growing impression at home that all liberal opinion in China, particularly of intellectuals, was either discouraged or suppressed directly or by intimidation.
As soon as I see the Generalissimo I will radio his reaction to your message.