Marshall Mission Files, Lot 54–D270
Memorandum by Colonel J. Hart Caughey to the Committee of Three
Following is Trusum No. 1, dated 15 January 1946:
“From Army Headquarters, Peiping to Chungking Liaison Group pass to Generalissimo action and to Marshall info to Yenan Observer Group pass to Chairman Mao Tse-tung action.”
“This is the first daily report to be submitted by Executive Headquarters and contains summary of activities to date. Hereafter reports will be submitted each day. This series of reports will be known as the Truce Summaries. Abbreviation ‘Trusums’. This is Trusum No. 1 as of midnight 15 January.
“Colonel Byroade arrived 11 January as initial member of Executive Headquarters. General Yeh, General Cheng, and Mr. Robertson, the three commissioners, arrived on 13 January. As of midnight 15 January total strength of each party in Executive Headquarters was as follows:
- a.
- Communist Party consisted of one commissioner, four staff workers, and thirteen technicians. Total 18.
- b.
- National Government Party. Total 18.
- c.
- American. Total 94.
“Operations Section will occupy its permanent office space in the Peiping Medical College 16 January. The three commissioners will establish their office same location 17 January. Suitable living accommodations have been provided for all parties.
“National Government has already established radio communications. American radio communications will be in operation 17 January. Communist Party having trouble with radio equipment but [Page 362] plan operation to start also by 17 January. The Communist Party was unable to contact outlying areas to obtain operating personnel and and information for making plans which in turn has made it unable to take part in setting up and dispatch of field teams to critical areas.
“By unanimous agreement the area selected for dispatch of first field team was Chihfeng, Jehol Province. Field was reported destroyed. American aircraft sent on reconnaissance landed at field on 15 January and is prevented from returning by the Russian Military. This is not considered serious incident as pilot should not have landed and did not have proper identification and orders. With recent arrival of Communist field team personnel it now appears possible to send teams 17 January to Chihfeng, Kalgan and Tsinan.
“Numerous reports from Central Government field commanders have been received indicating coalition [violation?] of cease fire orders and requesting immediate dispatch of field teams. Such reports will hereafter be included in the daily Trusum. Finding it impossible to dispatch teams as yet due to lack of communications and personnel, plan to drop leaflets on 16 January in the vicinity of the following named towns: Yung Nien, Liu Cheng, Tzu Yang, Chu Fou, Ssu Shui, Feng Chi, Chining, Cho Tzu Shan, Kuei Sui, Nan Shan Ku, Ku Pee Kou, Tsang Hsien, Pao Tou, Tang Kuang, Lien Chen. The above leaflets contained a cease fire order and in certain cases special instructions to repair airfields, allow passage of food into towns, etc. These leaflets were signed by all three commissioners.
“Above is brief summary of important events during the primary organization. For convenience daily Trusum will be submitted thru American radio channels to Chungking and Yenan. They will, in each case, be agreed upon by the three commissioners. Signed L. W. Haskell”88
- The American colonel serving as Chief of Staff to Colonel Byroade at Executive Headquarters.↩