Marshall Mission Files, Lot 54–D270: Telegram
General Marshall to the Secretary of the Navy ( Forrestal )
1428. Previous to receipt of your message56 I advised Admiral Cooke to instruct Rockey to prepare a reasonable schedule for Marine withdrawals from detached posts and notify the Nationalist Commander accordingly that the Marines would be withdrawn on the dates mentioned whether or not National troops took over.
Admiral Cooke and I discussed this problem at length over a week ago at which time I authorized Admiral Cooke to terminate train convoys [Page 874] and for Rockey to commence the relief of bridge guards. This would permit Marine forces to concentrate at a few points and, at the same time, require available National forces recently arrived in Chinwangtao and due for Jehol or Manchuria operations to be disposed southward along the rail line of communications to Tientsin.
Incidentally it is very important in this matter from my point of view that this affair be handled quietly, otherwise it would be a victory for the Communists, encourage them to more extreme propaganda and make it very hard for me to influence them.