Marshall Mission Files, Lot 54–D270
General Marshall’s Notes on Meeting With Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek at Nanking, January 6, 1947
Dr. Stuart accompanied me to the home of the Generalissimo to inform him that the President had recalled me to Washington for consultation, and that I was leaving Wednesday morning, the 8th. The Generalissimo, in expressing his regret, questioned me as to the various things he hoped that I would do for China—reorganization of the army, educational, etc. I told him I could make no statement regarding this prior to my seeing the President.
In discussing the current reactions in the United States regarding China, I mentioned the fact that a minority were urging our Government to adopt the proposal of Senator Murray and Senator Flanders for an American, Russian, British group to endeavor to provide a stabilizing influence for affairs in China. The Generalissimo picked up this particular point and made it the subject of the entire discussion which followed. It had been mentioned by me merely as a minority expression, without any prospect of adoption by our Government.
The Generalissimo requested me to say to the President that the decision made at Yalta regarding Manchuria80—the railroad, Dairen and Port Arthur—without reference to the Chinese Government came as a great shock and one that is not understood at all by the Chinese people. The Generalissimo, himself, realizing something of the circumstances at the time, accepted the decision but he felt that the action [Page 685] was not in accordance with the traditional stand of the United States Government and was one that would continue to arouse deep feeling in China. Further, he regarded the action of the Committee of Prime Ministers in Moscow last year, regarding China, as offensive to the dignity and sovereignty of the Chinese nation. He added that the day following the announcement the Soviet Ambassador had called on him and stated that the Soviet Government, while it acquiesced in the action taken, thought it unwise but that it had been proposed by the American representative.
The Generalissimo asked me to tell the President that under no circumstances, while he was at the head of the Chinese Government, would he accept any action regarding the internal affairs of China which involve the Soviet Government or the British Government; that, if such action were taken and forced on China, he would step aside as President because such procedure would be intolerable and an insult to the Chinese Government and people. He repeated these facts in various forms of expression continuing to emphasize the fact that he would deeply resent interference in the internal affairs of China by the Powers. I told him that I would repeat that information to the President and to the Secretary of State.
The Generalissimo requested me to call again the following afternoon at 6 o’clock to discuss what action I thought the Government should take regarding the Communists and in regard to the reorganization of the Government. This would be followed by a family dinner. He had proposed that he invite some of the leaders of the Government for dinner but I stated my preference to have them come in for lunch with me at my house.
- Agreement signed at Yalta, February 11, 1945, Foreign Relations, The Conferences at Malta and Yalta, 1945, p. 984; also printed as Department of State Executive Agreement Series No. 498, land in 59 Stat. (pt. 2) 1823.↩