Office of the Historian

Marshall Mission Files, Lot 54–D270: Telegram

The Secretary of State to General Marshall

[Washington,] 27 February 1946.

98685. Reurad 231.72 In view of the publicity that is being given presence of foreign troops in Manchuria and China and in order to anticipate possible statement from Moscow playing up Soviet proposal73 during Moscow Conference for simultaneous withdrawal of Russian and American forces by January 15th, I should like to make a statement as soon as possible regarding our plans for deactivation of the China Theater and withdrawal of American Marines from North China. I would not mention the specific dates contained in your 231 of February 23 unless you considered it advisable to do so, but would limit myself to some general statement such as that plans were under way for the early deactivation of the theater and withdrawal of Marines. I would make the suggested statement, of course, only if assured by you that it would not prove embarrassing to you in your mission and therefore would appreciate receiving your early comment.74

[
Byrnes
]
  1. Supra. ↩
  2. See memorandum of December 21, 1945, concerning American armed forces in China submitted by the Soviet delegation at the Moscow Conference of Foreign Ministers, Foreign Relations, 1945, vol. vii, p. 844.↩
  3. In reply, telegram No. 279, March 5, General Marshall stated: “Proposed statement indicated in 98685 agreeable to me.”↩