Marshall Mission Files, Lot 54–D270: Telegram
Colonel Marshall S. Carter to General Marshall
86851. Personal. This morning when I delivered your 182787 to the President he requested me to assure you again that he was relying entirely on your judgement on all China matters. He asked me to tell you that this included any decision you might make concerning your withdrawal or return for consultation. He said that he did not mean to imply in any way that he felt you should withdraw, but he wanted to make it clear that the matter was entirely in your hands to be decided only by you. He stated that at such time as you felt the situation called for your return, all you had to do was to notify him how you wanted the matter handled and it would be done that way. He admonished that I should not in any way give you the impression that he or anyone else in a responsible position was attempting to influence you or to urge you to withdraw. On the contrary his only desire is to impress upon you that the matter is yours and yours alone to determine. Finally, he stated that his remarks were made purely to assure you of complete and unrestricted freedom of your action in this regard. These remarks were made to me in the presence of Admiral Leahy88 who by chance was with the President when I delivered your message. Neither individual read 1827 while I was there.