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

893.00/5–2846

Agreement on Restoration of Communications: Document “C”

In reaching mutual agreement to issue orders to all commanders regarding restoration of lines of communications and to request immediate assumption of the task of reconstruction of railways by the Ministry of Communications, the following principles are adopted and hereby made a matter of record:

A. For purposes of this agreement the term “interim period” is defined as that period of time preceding the formation of, and assumption of authority by, an agreed form of National Government.

B. Representatives of the Ministry of Communications for matters of railway reconstruction and operation in North and Central China will initially be under the general supervision of the Executive Headquarters. Control by the Executive Headquarters over the representatives of the Ministry of Communications for the above-stated purposes shall cease at the termination of the above-defined interim period. However, by unanimous agreement the Commissioners may relinquish this control at any other time or for any other reason.

C. Railway Control Section. For efficient action on matters related to railway construction and operation in North and Central China, a Railway Control Section shall be established within the Operations Division of the Executive Headquarters. In general, the Railway Control Section will not interfere in technical matters of reconstruction and operation, but will devote itself to matters concerning policy with a view towards accelerating the task of reconstruction. A prime function will be to avoid misunderstandings and disagreements between the National Government and the Communist Party during the interim period. The Railway Control Section will consist of representatives of the National Government, Communist Party and the United States, with organization and procedure similar to the other sections already established within the Operations Division. It will include subsections composed of three members, similar to the present field team organization, for each of the eight railway lines in North and Central China. These subsections are a part of the office force, but may conduct such inspection trips as are agreed upon by the Railway Control Section. In addition, the regular field teams will handle such railway matters as are assigned to them. Such matters as cannot be agreed upon by unanimous vote within the Railway Control Section will be referred through channels to the Commissioners for decision. An organization chart of the Railway Control Section is attached.³¹

D. Railway Protection. In the interim period, the commanders of both the National Government and the Communist Party will be responsible within their respective areas for the protection of railway repair units consisting of technicians and laborers and for prevention of further destruction. Any troop movements necessary for this purpose must be approved by the Executive Headquarters.

E. Train Guards, Administrative Control and Operating Personnel. Personnel of these classifications will all be under the direct control of the representatives of the Ministry of Communications, under the general supervision of the Executive Headquarters.

F. Priority of Construction. Priority for initiation of reconstruction and operation of the various railway lines will be based upon their bearing on the economic recovery of the country, with full consideration given to railway requirements to facilitate the disarmament and repatriation of the Japanese.

Approved:

General Chang Chih Chung
General Chou En-lai
General G. C. Marshall

[Chungking, February 9, 1946.]

31. Not found in Department files.