Marshall Mission Files, Lot 54–D270

Minutes of Meeting Between Mr. Butterworth and Mr. Tung Pi-wu 38 at the American Embassy, Nanking, March 3, 1947

Also present: Mr. Wang Ping Nan
Colonel Underwood
Mr. Chang Wen Chin

Mr. Tung Pi Wu expressed appreciation for Mr. Butterworth’s assistance in arranging his return to Nanking. He then stated that the original figures covering Communist personnel to be returned to Yenan from Nanking, Shanghai, and Chungking were incomplete. The National Government was now requiring larger numbers of Communist personnel to evacuate National Government areas. Specifically, there are now 68 adults and 6 children to be evacuated from Shanghai and Nanking. Also there is 3,000 pounds of property to be evacuated over and above the individual baggage allowance. Mr. Tung stated that there are 250 Communists in Chungking and 30 Communists distributed between Kunming and Chengtu who are being forced to evacuate. He hoped that the United States would be able to evacuate this personnel and equipment.

Mr. Butterworth emphasized that the responsibility which the United States had voluntarily assumed in the matter pertained only to that Communist personnel which was present in these areas as a direct result of General Marshall’s mediation. It was neither possible nor appropriate for the United States to attempt a mass evacuation of all Communists from National Government areas to Yenan. The United States was anxious to render appropriate assistance but had no locus standi for undertaking total evacuation of Communists. In this connection, Mr. Butterworth referred to General Chou En Lai’s memorandum of 18 November39 which listed 167 Communists who should be evacuated in an emergency.

Mr. Tung Pi Wu stated that the situation was now more complicated than when General Chou’s memorandum was written. At that time it was visualized that Communist personnel over and above those listed in the memorandum could be discharged locally. Now, however, the National Government was blocking local discharges. Mr. Tung Pi Wu understood the American position and only wanted to know what help the United States could give.

Mr. Butterworth stated that the United States would accept the increased personnel figures for the Nanking-Shanghai area. This was a C–47 operation and did not present an impossible problem in logistics. However, he regretted that the 3,000 pounds of property [Page 721] over and above the individual baggage allowance could not be flown to Yenan. Any American effort to haul large quantities of supplies to Yenan under the cover of the evacuation of personnel associated with mediation would surely lead to difficulties with the National Government. However, he would informally determine from the National Government if personnel over and above those air-lifted by the United States could be discharged locally, or if this personnel would be safely returned to Communist areas through National Government resources. Mr. Tung replied that the simplest arrangement was for Communist personnel over and above that flown by the United States to be returned to Communist areas by transportation furnished by the National Government. This arrangement would not require local discharges. Mr. Butterworth agreed to discuss the matter with the National Government in this manner.

  1. Senior member of Chinese Communist Party delegation at Nanking.
  2. Ante, p. 551.