Office of the Historian

Marshall Mission Files, Lot 54–D270: Telegram

Brigadier General Henry A. Byroade to General Marshall

Peiping, 11 February 1946.

328. Report on Canton area is subject. While in Chungking I issued instructions to Canton team to proceed to Tapeng Peninsula and action reported fighting there.

Following this order latest report from U. S. team leader is that when General Chang Fa Kwei was informed that General Tseng Sheng commanded East River Communist forces with headquarters in the Tapeng Peninsula he stated in an informal off record conference that “If Generalissimo recognized Canton Communist forces that would constitute his (Chang Fa Kwei’s) authority to withdraw troops.”

Communists here report current fighting and possible annihilation Tseng Sheng’s forces and have requested urgent action.

Request that National Government urgently confirm to Chang Fa Kwei its recognition of the General Tseng Sheng force as a Communist unit falling within the purview of the cease fire order. This will facilitate movement of and action by our team.36

  1. Notation: “G[eneralissi]mo Order issued to allow team to proceed to disputed area. Interpreted by [Col.] Pee[,] also got info[rmation] from [General] Chang [Chih-chung] that this recognizes troops.” See telegram No. 186, February 13, from General Marshall, p. 431.↩