Marshall Mission Files, Lot 54–D270
Notes of Meeting Between General Marshall and General C. P. Lee at No. 5 Ning Hai Road, Nanking, December 5, 1946, 11 a.m.
| Also present: | Captain Soong |
General Lee referred to the United Press release which stated that the United States Government would not render financial assistance to a China engaged in civil war. General Lee said that this statement would have a beneficial effect on the current Chinese situation. General Marshall retorted that he could not see what was good about it, [Page 595] since actually the Chinese people would suffer from it instead of the rival political parties. General Marshall pointed out that the Canton-Hankow Railroad, which is not in the disputed area, could not function normally because it could not obtain the necessary assistance from the United States. General Marshall further pointed out that since last April, fighting in various parts of China had blocked all repair of communications; this had created a dilemma for the Chinese people.
General Lee claimed to know Communist psychology very well. He stated that there are two services which he can render General Marshall. First, an informal meeting might be arranged between Mr. Tung Pi-wu, General Marshall and Dr. Stuart through General Marshall’s and Doctor Stuart’s invitation, with General Lee present. Second, Mr. Mo Teh-hui,97 Dr. Wu I-fang98 and General Lee might make a trip to Yenan to persuade the Communists to resume negotiations. General Lee realized that during the National Assembly sessions, the Government could not ask for resumption of negotiations.
General Marshall then outlined the contents of a letter from Mr. Tung Pi-wu which he had just received. General Marshall asked for General Lee’s interpretation of the letter. General Lee stated his belief that Mr. Tung was still anxious for peace. He said the letter represented the inferiority complex of the Communist Party. General Lee stated that the Communists would not seek directly a resumption of negotiations for fear of losing face. General Lee said that there could be two possibilities resulting from the present letter. First, the Yenan Government might be ready for some definite action such as the calling of the People’s Assembly in the liberated areas. Second, the CCP might really want peace. General Lee then suggested that he would call on Mr. Tung Pi-wu personally again and try to determine the Communist attitude. General Marshall agreed to this suggestion. General Marshall concluded by stating that the Communist Party had done practically what the CC clique and the militarists in the Kuomintang wanted them to do since April and that by their actions the CCP had practically defeated General Marshall’s mission.