Marshall Mission Files, Lot 54–D270
Minutes of Meeting Between Dr. Stuart and General Marshall at No. 5 Ning Hai Road, Nanking, August 22, 1946, 6:30 p.m.
| Also present: | Colonel Hutchin |
Dr. Stuart reported on his afternoon conversation with General Chou En-lai. Dr. Stuart had described to General Chou his morning conversation with General Yu Ta Wei and, after some discussion with Chou, he had reached certain conclusions. Dr. Stuart suggests that General Marshall ask the Generalissimo to appoint his two or three members to the committee, and to take all the steps possible which will clear the way for the organization and operation of a State Council. General Chou is ready to go ahead at once on this matter. He is willing to discuss State Council issues, such as how many members from different parties, and what veto arrangements will be set up.
At the same time that Dr. Stuart’s small committee will be working toward the establishment of a State Council, General Marshall would continue to press the Generalissimo for a cessation of hostilities order. Dr. Stuart stated that it would be improper to go on fighting while, at the same time, trying to settle by peaceful means, the political differences. There is no doubt but what the five points will come up, but General Chou is willing to go ahead on political problems if the military problems proceed apace.
Dr. Stuart then expanded on his meeting with General Yu Ta Wei, which are recorded in minutes of this morning.
General Marshall brought out the point that when Dr. Stuart speaks of a cease-fire order or cessation of hostilities order, it immediately involves him in a very serious problem of local government.
Dr. Stuart stated that General Chou mentioned that problem only lightly in connection with his discussion of a meeting he held at 11:30 this morning with Dr. T. V. Soong. However, the Chou–Soong meeting discussed mostly general principles of a democratic form of government. Dr. Soong pointed out that he was completely without [Page 68] official standing, but that he was interested in participating in the Marshall-Stuart negotiations.
General Marshall then stated that General Chou, while advocating a socialistic government for China, thought that now impracticable and their best hope seemed to be to try to get a democracy somewhat like that of the United States. He thought that now that Chou was ready to get on with the work of the small committee in preparation for a State Council, that perhaps he (General Marshall) had better go to Ruling at 1400 tomorrow afternoon. General Marshall would ask the Generalissimo to designate his people and in the meantime General Chou should be getting his names ready.
Dr. Stuart agreed with General Marshall’s proposed trip to Kuling and urged that we go ahead with steps toward the organization of the State Council, letting the world know of our progress as soon as possible. Then if we also let the world know how we come out on renewed efforts for a cessation of hostilities, all the world would know that the United States had been as patient as possible.