Marshall Mission Files, Lot 54–D270
Minutes of Meeting Between General Marshall and Dr. Carsun Chang at No. 5 Ning Hoi Road, Nanking, October 22, 1946, 5 p.m.
| Also present: | Col. Caughey |
Dr. Chang opened the meeting by outlining the various meetings that were held in Shanghai between the third party members, Government representatives, and General Chou. Dr. Chang reported the Communists now feel that they have been defeated and that acceptance of the Government’s eight-point proposal is comparable to accepting a surrender. Dr. Chang mentioned that two of the eight points are contrary to PCC resolutions and that these were: (1) A proposal is included for the Communists to submit lists of National Assembly members concurrent with promulgation of cessation of hostilities. PCC resolutions contemplate submission of this list to a reorganized Government and not to any present political regime; (2) The question of excluding Manchuria in discussions of the local government question is out of line in that the PCC resolutions contemplate a discussion of local government in all of China. Dr. Chang added that these points probably were not important but they were contrary to the PCC resolutions.
[Page 408]General Marshall then briefly outlined the developments in the meeting which he had had with the third party members in Dr. Stuart’s residence this morning. During this meeting it became apparent that the Communists’ principal concern rested in the fact that some of the points in Government’s proposals were adopted out of the June agreements (which are not signed) but that not all points were adopted. The Communists now take the attitude that they cannot agree to parts of those agreements without reviving all of the agreements. General Marshall continued by outlining the difficulties he had had with the Generalissimo in getting him to issue his eight-point statement and then told Dr. Chang that approximately half of those points were concessions on the part of the Government to meet what were known to be points which the Communists would insist be included in any statement. General Marshall explained that it was, therefore, a great disappointment to him that General Chou had objected to these eight points just because all the June agreements were not included, since what he (General Marshall) had tried to do was salvage from the June agreements those parts which were still applicable.
Dr. Chang said that the loss of Kalgan to the Communists would probably mean that the Communists would not now under any circumstances give up Harbin. The Communists further argue that if the June agreements are taken as a whole then the January 13th positions in North China would obtain and the Government would have to give back Kalgan to the Communists, in which case the Communists would probably then be willing to give up Harbin to the Nationalists. General Marshall stated that he was seriously concerned over this particular aspect of the situation and felt that this could very likely be the basis of a breakdown in negotiations and development of war in Manchuria.
Dr. Chang then said that his idea for proceeding with negotiations was to have an informal talk first, then to proceed with the all important question of arranging for the cessation of hostilities, after which there would be a general discussion of any outstanding points. General Marshall concurred in this procedure and then assured Dr. Chang that discussion on any other points would not be limited in any respect and that that wasn’t the intention of the Government’s proposal.