Foreign Relations of the United States, 1946, The Far East: China, Volume X

Marshall Mission Files, Lot 54–D270: Telegram

General Marshall ⁶⁸ to the Chief of Staff (Eisenhower)

Chungking, 23 February 1946.

231. Please transmit following to Chiefs of Staff with copy to Sec State.

General Wedemeyer⁶⁹ will shortly propose inactivation of China Theater May 1st. Matters thereafter can be readily handled on a temporary basis by MAG⁷⁰ and Seventh Fleet. I regard this action as very important to my mission as demobilization and integration procedure of Chinese Armed Forces carries Executive Headquarters⁷¹ action into Manchuria.

In the same connection, I am hopeful that I may be justified in proposing start of withdrawal of all Marines except Transport Air, housekeeping and small guard details, at an early date, possibly April 1st. Growing Manchurian crisis with its inevitable effect on Kuomintang distrust of Communist purposes or good faith complicates my problem and position in this matter.

68. General of the Army George C. Marshall, Special Representative of President Truman in China.
69. Lt. Gen. Albert C. Wedemeyer, Commanding General, U. S. Forces, China Theater.
70. Military Advisory Group; for further correspondence, see pp. 810 ff.
71. Established at Peiping to supervise cease-fire arrangements; see vol. ix, pp. 1 ff.