893.00/3–547: Telegram
The Ambassador in China ( Stuart ) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 5—8:18 a.m.]
452. Following text of Embassy press release March 5 re airlift of Communists to Yenan:
“The United States initiated today the final phase of its program for assisting in the return of CCP personnel to CCP controlled areas. This program included CCP personnel directly assigned to Executive Headquarters and those Communists in Nanking, Shanghai and Chungking who were associated with the mediation effort.
“Seventy Communists were scheduled for airlift from Chungking to Yenan today via one C–47 and one C–54. However, only 20 were actually airlifted, as the C–54 was forced to return to Nanking after developing engine trouble. The C–54 is now scheduled to transport 50 Communists from Chungking to Yenan tomorrow 6 March, and an additional 50 Communists on 8 March. On 7 March, 74 Communists will be flown from the Nanking–Shanghai area to Yenan. The number transported from Nanking, Shanghai and Chungking exceeds by 46 the number submitted to General Marshall by General Chou En-lai as representing those Communists associated with the mediation effort for whom airlift would be required in an emergency. This increase was accepted by the United States in order to accommodate possible borderline cases.
“It is understood that garrison commanders in the three cities are requiring the evacuation of CCP personnel beyond those airlifted by the United States. Personnel covered by the garrison commanders’ orders presumably included those engaged in such activities as newspaper publishing, party work, and operation of bookstores. The National Government has informed the American Embassy that it will [Page 722] supply necessary transportation to effect the return of this additional personnel to Communist controlled areas”.40
- Colonel Underwood, in telegram No. 2126, March 5, informed Colonel Carter in Washington: “Purpose of release is to weaken any possible future propaganda attacks from Yenan and to forestall mistreatment of Communists being returned as a National Government responsibility.”↩