Marshall Mission Files, Lot 54–D270: Telegram
Colonel George V. Underwood to Colonel Marshall S. Carter
190. Significant events since my message no. 2117, this date, are briefed herein. General Yeh sent an urgent request to General Gillem and the Ambassador through the Yenan Observer Group on 1st March 1947 in which he requested the Ambassador to extend the 5 March deadline and requested General Gillem to maintain the Yenan Observer Group until the evacuation is accomplished. He also stated that the Communist Party would protest to the National Government concerning the order to evacuate Nanking, Shanghai, and Chungking by 5 March. The following reply was sent to General Yeh in the evening of 1st March by Mr. Butterworth in his capacity as Chargé d’Affaires in the absence of the Ambassador:
“The Communist Party was notified on 6 February 1947 of the United States offer to provide transportation for the return of its personnel to CCP controlled areas until 5 March 1947. The first request for transportation only involved 25 persons and was received on 26 February. A further request covering the remaining personnel was received on 28 February. A schedule based on these requests has now been arranged which, subject to weather and technical operating difficulties, will permit airlift to Yenan by 7 March of the approximately 167 Communist personnel listed in General Chou En-lai’s memorandum to General Marshall of 18 November 1946,37 and reaffirmed by the Nanking Communist delegation office in the latter part of December 1946. This schedule has been given to the local Communist delegation.
The Yenan Observer Group will remain in Yenan until the last flight to Yenan is completed.”
The following press release was issued by the Embassy late night 1st March:
“On 6 February 1947 the United States made known its offer of assistance for the return of authorized Communist personnel to reasonably accessible CCP areas and the return of National Government field personnel to stations of origin until 5 March. By 21 February all CCP personnel formerly connected with Executive Headquarters had been returned to CCP controlled areas and National Government field personnel associated with Executive Headquarters had been returned to stations of origin. Return of CCP personnel in Nanking, Shanghai, and Chungking was delayed by inability of the National Government and Chinese Communist Party to formalize their desires in the matter. On 26 and 28 February the CCP submitted requests calling for approximately 167 persons to be transported from these 3 cities to CCP areas. An airlift schedule based on these requests has been arranged which will permit accomplishment of this task by 7 March subject to weather and other technical operational restrictions.”