Marshall Mission Files, Lot 54–D270: Telegram
Colonel George V. Underwood to Colonel Marshall S. Carter
2096. General Gillem has now completed the return to Communist areas of CCP personnel assigned to Executive Headquarters, and the return to stations of origin of National Government personnel assigned to Executive Headquarters. No progress has been made in returning to Communist areas the Communists entrenched in Chungking, Shanghai, and Nanking, for the reason that the Communists have not seen fit to submit their airlift requirements. Actually, we are caught in the middle of a typically Chinese maneuver. The Communists wish to remain in the three cities, if permitted to do so. The Government has informally indicated that permission to stay beyond 5th March will not be granted; however, Wang Ping-nan is demanding that the Government so state formally and in writing. Government has not yet given this formal notification, apparently because it would thereby furnish considerable grist for the Communist propaganda mill. Also, the Government is rumored to be bargaining with the Communists for permission to keep the Government delegation in Yenan in return for continuation of the Communist delegations in one or more of the three cities.
We have repeatedly explained to the Communists that delay in submitting airlift requirements is to their own disadvantage. We do not intend to lift the 5th March deadline, except for our own convenience.