Marshall Mission Files, Lot 54–D270
Minutes of Meeting Between General Marshall and Professor Chou Tsien-chung40 at Nanking, December 21, 1946, 11 a.m.
| Also present: | Colonel Underwood |
| Captain Soong |
Professor Chou stated that he had conferred with Mr. Tung Pi-wu on the preceding day. Mr. Tung reaffirmed the desire of the CCP for resumption of negotiations and for earliest possible attainment [Page 648] of unity and democracy in China. Mr. Tung claimed that General Chou En Lai had intimated as much in his recent speech on the anniversary of the Sian incident. In response to Professor Chou’s inquiry, Mr. Tung stated that the CCP still considered General Marshall impartial and still desired his mediation. Mr. Tung restated the CCP hope for a new inter-party conference after the adjournment of the National Assembly, followed by a wholesale reorganization of the Government. He insisted that the CCP still desired to cooperate in the resolution of outstanding military and political problems but would demand application of the PCC resolutions and the formation of a coalition government.
Professor Chou referred to his recent conversation with Dr. Lo Lung-chi who said that General Marshall had asked if the Democratic League would join the reorganized State Council, if the CCP boycotted same. General Marshall started emphatically that he had asked Dr. Lo no such question and that his remarks had been confined to emphasizing the critical need for a unification of all liberal parties under patriotic and unselfish leadership.
Professor Chou stated that Mr. Li Huang41 had told him that General Chou En Lai’s position within the Communist Party had become quite embarrassing since his return to Yenan. The CCP blamed General Chou En Lai for excessive criticism of the minority parties and charged that his tactics had driven some of these parties into the National Assembly. General Chou En Lai was reported to have claimed that the true blame should rest upon Mr. Cheng Shen-fu, CCP representative in Shanghai, who had advised that a rigid stand by the CCP would bring the minority parties into line. Professor Chou claimed that these events proved the CCP fear of isolation and formation of an anti-CCP front in China.
Professor Chou referred to his recent discussion with Mr. Carsun Chang. The latter considers himself in a very difficult and awkward position at the moment as a result of Socialist Democrats’ participation in the National Assembly while the Democratic League had refused to join the Assembly. Mr. Carsun Chang claimed that the President of the Democratic League had consented to participation in the National Assembly by the Socialist Democrats.
Professor Chou then stated that the Young China Party which he represented earnestly desired renewal of negotiations under the leadership of General Marshall and Dr. Stuart.
General Marshall read from a front page article in the Shanghai Evening Post concerning the Young China Party’s program for reviving negotiations. General Marshall asked if the Central Standing [Page 649] Committee of the Young China Party had developed any concrete recommendations for revival of negotiations. Professor Chou replied negatively, stating that the Young China Party hoped for peace but considered the means and methods of obtaining peace to be General Marshall’s responsibility. He claimed that all minority parties and the majority of the people of China had faith in General Marshall. Moreover, General Marshall knew the military situation thoroughly and was the only one who could solve the foremost problem, namely the formation of a National Army. Professor Chou considered this problem primarily a tactical one. General Marshall replied that the tactical phases of the problem were simple; that the real difficulty lay in the political aspects and fears.
General Marshall then discussed at length the fateful mistakes of the Communist Party in playing directly into the hands of the reactionaries in the Kuomintang. Solution to the problem in China required handling the reactionaries in the National Government and dispelling the deep distrust of the Communist Party in the actions of the Government. As he saw it, this problem could only be solved by the formation of all minority parties into one patriotic, highly organized, liberal party under selfless leadership and devoted to peace, genuine democratic government and maintaining the rights of the people. He deplored the present selfish leadership of the various minority parties, which he regarded as the primary obstacle to the formation of a truly liberal party.
General Marshall commented how difficult it was for an American to understand things Chinese. Many issues which appear trivial to an American assume tremendous importance to the Chinese. However, he hoped that he could break through one phase of Chinese psychology. He was looking for a Chinese who would be willing to sacrifice his face for the good of China. He would back such a man completely. Although such a man might temporarily lose face in China, he would eventually gain face for himself and China throughout the world. General Marshall observed that many Chinese would give their lives for a good cause but not their face. He asked if Sun Yat Sen had not lost face many times during the course of his struggles. Professor Chou replied affirmatively, stating that he was practically driven out of Canton by the people in 1923 when headed for peace talks in Peiping.
Professor Chou asked if peace negotiations could begin again after the closing of the National Assembly. General Marshall did not know the answer to this question. In reply to Professor Chou’s next question, General Marshall stated that he had only seen Governor Chang Chun socially. Professor Chou then asked General Marshall to state the real intentions of the Generalissimo at the moment. General Marshall [Page 650] replied that although he had a slight inkling of the Generalissimo’s intentions, he could not discuss same. Information given him in confidence by the Generalissimo should only be revealed by the Generalissimo.
Professor Chou asked if the United States would grant the five hundred million dollar loan after the formation of a coalition government. General Marshall replied affirmatively, provided China actually, in fact, had formed a genuine democratic government. Professor Chou asked if any progress could be made by the formation of a coalition government with seats left open for Communist participation. General Marshall indicated that such a government could at least make a start in the right direction.
Professor Chou confided in General Marshall that General Chen Cheng had recently instructed the chief Kuomintang delegates to the National Assembly to make concessions regarding the constitution since these concessions would be more than regained by the Kuomintang after the close of the National Assembly. The meeting terminated with Professor Chou once more expressing the hope of the Young China Party for peace.