Marshall Mission Files, Lot 54–D270: Telegram
Mr. Walter S. Robertson to General Marshall
357. Please refer to 32839 regarding the Canton situation. Col. Miller now reports that General Chang Fa Kwei states that he had not been instructed by the Gissimo or General Ho Ying Chin40 that authority of Executive Hq. is applicable in his area or that Communist forces in that area have been recognized by Chungking. Col. Miller then informed General Chang Fa Kwei that he had been informed that Communist forces had been recognized in Chungking (Miller was quoting CFBX 22639 from Comgen China41 to Canton and Peiping, not addressed to you, which stated that the East River guerilla column is a Communist force and has been recognized as such by the War Department, Yenan Supreme Headquarters and the Central Government). General Chang Fa Kwei seemed surprised and said that his orders would have to come from his superiors. General Chang Fa Kwei then announced that he was leaving the Canton area February 13 for conference with General Ho Ying Chin.
In subsequent message today Col. Miller stated that he has been informed in writing that the Executive Hq. team will receive no assistance from General Chang Fa Kwei since he had no information as to the authority of Executive Hq. in his area and since Communist forces in his area had not been recognized by Chungking. Further that it was understood that Executive Hq. had authority only in areas north of the Yangtze River.
The SISBE [problem?] in the Canton area reported in 328 has now been extended to question of the authority of the Executive Hq. south of the Yangtze. Request your personal assistance to insure that both General Ho Ying Chin and General Chang Fa Kwei receive immediate instructions from the Gissimo.
[Page 434]As background info, the Communists here are extremely worried about annihilation of their forces in Canton area. Central Government here states that only a small force of bandits is involved and that they have no military organization or insignia. China Theater and Americans here feel that this guerilla force is Communist and entitled to protection under cease fire orders. Further the defiance of Ho Ying Chin’s command to our orders cannot be tolerated.