Marshall Mission Files, Lot 54–D270
Minutes of Meeting Between General Marshall, Dr. Stuart, Mr. Miao Yun-tai, Mr. Tseng Chi, Dr. Lo Lung-chi, and Mr. Lee17 at the American Embassy, Nanking, October 25, 1946, 10:45 a.m.
| Also present: | Colonel Caughey |
| Mr. Philip Fugh18 |
Doctor Lo opened the meeting by stating that the third party group had now obtained the Government reactions (from Doctor Sun Fo and Doctor Wang Shih Chieh) to the seven political points, or questions, raised by the Communists to the Government’s 8 proposals. These reactions were: 1) The Government will give to the Communists and Democratic League only 13 seats in the State Council. 2) The reorganization of the Executive Yuan is to be included in the governmental reorganiztion but not until after the National Assembly has met. 3) Those matters agreed to by the PCC shall stand and those matters not agreed to shall be discussed by either the PCC Steering Committee or the Draft Constitution Committee. 4) The meeting of the National Assembly cannot be delayed although there is a possibility of postponement after the first meeting on 12 November to afford more time for discussions. 5) The PCC Steering Committee can decide whether or not the 2,400 delegates to the National Assembly should be increased by 450. 6) The names of the delegates for the National Assembly must be submitted by the Communists at the same time a cease fire agreement is reached. 7) The question of exclusion of Manchuria from discussions concerning local government must stand as is.
Doctor Lo continued by stating that the third party had raised certain questions to the Government representatives, the first of which concerned the 13 members of the State Council; the third party had suggested discussion of this matter by the Steering Committee of [Page 419] the PCC since the third party did not consider that it was a decision for the Government to alter the 8:4:4:4 ratio since that ratio had been established by the PCC.
The third party also raised the question of local government in Manchuria and took the view that since all local governments were to be regulated, or controlled, by a reorganized government—this in accordance with the PCC—the Government attitude in this respect left open to question what agency would direct or control local governments in Manchuria until the Government was reorganized. Doctor Lo reported that the Communists want definite assurance that the Government intends to carry out the decisions reached by the PCC in accordance with the PCC procedures. Assurances on this point would greatly assist negotiations. Doctor Lo continued by stating that the third party had forwarded to the Communists the Government’s attitude, as evidenced above.
Doctor Lo continued by stating that there was a little confusion within the third party concerning the four military points, or questions, mentioned by the Communist Party and that the third party had, after discussing in general these problems with Doctor Sun Fo and Doctor Wang Shih Chieh, suggested that it would be best to refer these matters to the Committee of Three. Doctor Lo then asked General Marshall if he had any comments.
After briefly consulting with Doctor Stuart, who agreed, General Marshall told Doctor Lo that it was his desire to stay out of detailed discussions at this particular time in order not to confuse the issue. He added that his only comment was that the views expressed by both sides contained glaring inaccuracies. General Marshall then pointed out that the arguments set forth by General Chou appeared in some respects skillful maneuvers which cloud major issues.
General Marshall pointed out that as far as the Government was concerned they were most interested, and he agreed, in the concept, that some sort of a military reorganization plan be developed based on the principles set forth in the 25 February reorganization agreement. General Marshall stated that this appeared to be the basic issue, that the armies must in effect be neutralized or else political negotiations and governmental reorganization would be impossible. General Marshall pointed out that the Communists have continuously advocated that the resolutions reached by the PCC should be adhered to. He added however that army reorganization was also a part of the PCC resolutions, a matter not mentioned by the Communists. The fact that army reorganization is a part of the PCC resolutions is all the more reason this aspect must be resolved. General Marshall continued by stating that the memoranda passed between the two parties in the past few days could not be considered as providing a clear cut [Page 420] basis for negotiations since a mass of minutia has been included. He again advised Doctor Lo that the real basis of continued negotiations was a satisfactory solution to army reorganization.
Doctor Stuart stated that he and General Marshall were counting on the third party to get into the business of stopping the fighting. He added that the number of seats in the State Council for instance, or the submission of names of delegates, or revival of the Draft Constitution Committee, all, in effect, were small matters in comparison.
General Marshall cautioned Doctor Lo that there had developed a difference of opinion between the Government and the Communists with reference to the army reorganization and that this difference had developed as follows: The 25 February agreement provided for the location in various areas elements of both the Nationalist and Communist armies; but the Government approached the June meetings on the assumption that only Communist locations were to be determined. This was not in accord with February 25. It would have permitted isolation and subsequent liquidation of the Communist forces by superior Government forces. He persuaded the Generalissimo to agree to location of units of both sides. The Generalissimo’s memo of October 2 again repeated the error of omitting designation of location for Government units.
Doctor Lo informed General Marshall that the third party had not yet worked out a definite scheme of operation but that their program now envisaged a cessation of hostilities; holding all troops where they now are; and then mutual discussion of the various problems concerning military and political details. Doctor Lo said he had informed General Chou that he should not count on Communist military strength as a means to obtain political strength since the Communist military strength was inadequate to accomplish this, but that instead he must depend on political force in order to arrive at a satisfactory form of government.
General Marshall then told Doctor Lo that it was his opinion that the third party might get at the root of the present difficulties by finding some sort of an agreement between the Government and the Communists concerning the Kalgan versus Harbin issue. He stated that they might find the Government willing to give up Kalgan providing Communists would not station troops there; if the Communists would permit establishment of a National garrison of sizeable strength in Harbin. General Marshall added that in addition to this particular question, some sort of a political concession might be reached on the exclusion of Manchuria from reference of local government to political settlement by making Antung Province the one exception in Manchuria.
[Page 421]Doctor Lo then asked General Marshall when the Generalissimo would return to Nanking. General Marshall stated that he had taken up this matter with General Chen Cheng the previous day and that he was quite certain the Generalissimo would return Saturday or Sunday as originally scheduled. He said however that negotiations at the moment did not seem to demand the Generalissimo’s presence. General Marshall continued by saying that in the eyes of the world the Generalissimo’s prolonged absence from Nanking would carry a definite implication of unwillingness to negotiate.
Doctor Lo said the Communists felt that the Government’s eight proposals were arbitrarily and dictatorially issued and on psychological grounds they had refused to accept any of the points, even though some were acceptable to the party. The Generalissimo apparently expected some formal acceptance or denial but the third party had encouraged General Chou not to make a formal reply. Doctor Lo then asked General Marshall to dissuade the Generalissimo from requiring a formal reply since 1) it would not accomplish a purpose in view of the third party participation between the two major parties and 2) because to require a reply would mean great loss of face to General Chou and his party.