893.00/8–1549: Telegram
The Chargé in China (Clark) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 16—4:51 a. m.]
Cantel 956. Reference our airgram A–39, July 26,84 reporting earlier interview with General Ma Hung-kuei, Governor Ninghsia and Deputy Commander now Northwest Political-Military Command.
We called on General Ma again August 15 and found General interested in talking about only one thing—bullets. General Ma, gesticulating and signing in vigorous demonstration his professed feeling complete frustration, said he could not fight Communists without bullets: that his bullets were just about exhausted, and that Central Government absolutely refused send him even one empty cartridge. He stated that he had asked Central Government officials Canton and Generalissimo in Formosa for bullets, but answer was invariably no. He said he even proposed borrowing bullets with promise return them when fighting was over, but answer was same. Asked what excuse was given for refusal allot bullets, General Ma, his voice reeking with disgust, said: “They give no excuse: they simply say they have none.” General Ma asked specifically that his statements be reported Washington and stressed point that US, if it intends help China fight Communists, must do so “now, not wait until 1950 or 1951”. Clear implication this statement was of course that US should give immediate and direct aid to Ma Hung-kuei, view which General Ma has long held and which was fully reported in reference airgram. General Ma was assured that conversation would be reported, our response in other respects being purely non-committal.
Asked about results high-level military conference now in progress Canton, General Ma called for piece of paper and brush and forthwith sketched positions now held by Nationalist and Communist forces in Lanchow–Tienshu–Ninghsia area. His sketch showed Communist three-pronged drive on Lanchow and contained arrows indicating how Nationalist forces could chop up Communists: Ma Pu-fang’s forces striking out from Lanchow and driving wedges between the three advancing Communist columns, Ma Hung-kuei’s forces attacking Communist right flank, and Hu Tsung-nan’s forces attacking Communist left flank and rear. General Ma pointed out that Communists in that area are now outnumbered by some 300,000 to little over 200,000. With very expressive twist of wrist, he claimed that Communists could be “ground” to bits if the Central Government would only supply bullets. Implementation of counter-attack, said General, awaits only allotment of necessary bullets by Central Government.
- Not printed.↩