Marshall Mission Files, Lot 54–D270: Telegram
General Marshall to Colonel Marshall S. Carter
1897. Please pass to Sec State.
Dear Mister Secretary: Your message (88875) has been received and the President’s desires regarding mediation activities of Dr. Stuart and my return home for consultation have been noted.
I think it best for me to delay my departure and any notification to the Generalissimo and others of this purpose, until a decision is reached by the Government regarding a mission to Yenan and the Communist reaction is known. Also I would suggest that the first public notice of my intended return should be in Washington but only 24 hours before my departure from Nanking. Otherwise I will be considerably embarrassed by a series of governmental formalities. End of Sec State mesg.
For Carter: Since writing the foregoing your 88932 has arrived regarding President’s desire for me to arrive in Washington by January 10th. To do so I would have to leave here tomorrow morning or make a day and night continuous flight which imposes too much of fatigue for my years. Please urgently see President again and find out if January 10th is an imperative date. He may possibly have expressed himself carelessly. I had planned to rest up a week in Hawaii. I think I fully understand matter to be discussed. My answer is in affirmative if that continues to be his desire. My personal reaction is something else.