Marshall Mission Files, Lot 54–D270
Supplementary Meeting Held at Taiyuan, March 3, 1946, 6:45 p.m.
Gen. Marshall: “Have you two gentlemen any suggestions as to how we should proceed in trying to adjust matters here in this region?”
Gen. Chou En-Lai: “The time is very short and I will only briefly say a few comments. It appears to me that [we?] have also to approach Governor Yen Hsi Shan. I think Gen. Chang had opportunity to talk with Governor Yen and after liaison can be established, then the cessation of hostilities can be effected. Colonel Holly has just referred to General Ho Lung as liaison officer sent to Ta Tung, coming to Taiyuan, and no reply was obtained. As a matter of fact, all these other generals have sent liaison representatives and waiting ten days but finally he was refused.”
Gen. Marshall: “Would General Chou think it a good thing or bad thing to have Colonel Holly hear this?”
Gen. Chou En-lai: “It is all right, but for the limited time. I would like to present preliminary remarks and if there is any further discussion, I will be glad to talk.”
[Page 494]Gen. Chang Chih Chung: “Would General Marshall agree to postpone the dinner date for 15 to 30 minutes?”
Gen. Marshall: “It is not my dinner. I will be ready to postpone it an hour.”
Gen. Chou En-lai: “The Communist member has also sent a representative to Ming Ying and is still kept there and all four Communist commanders have sent liaison officers down there. Colonel Holly also stated in his report that Governor Yen is not clear about the liaison officers. I have asked my officers here regarding this cessation of hostilities and they have assured me that they can send liaison officers to all the places that are needed to effect cessation of hostilities. In accordance with directives of Peiping Executive Headquarters regarding the cessation of hostilities itself, Colonel Holly has also made the statement that all overlays and maps were submitted by Governor Yen. The problem Colonel Holly presented was that fighting has taken place along the Pai-Chin railroad to the southeast of Taiyuan which took place in February. That is true, but we must find out the cause of the clashes. The Nationalists troops attempted to march from Taiyuan to a garrison of Japanese and puppet troops and were surrounded by Communist troops and they want to cut through Communist troops which implies movement of troops and while actually there were only Japanese and puppet troops in those areas. He sent 30,000 men for the engagement and they arrived at Ch’in Hsien. Regarding this, the Communist member in the team has submitted a report to the team but this was not mentioned in the today’s report. And, therefore, on our side, we can definitely assure you that the responsibility for the clashes that took place after January 13 was not on our side and I can definitely assure you personally that henceforth, we will not, under any pretext, start any more clashes. I think, regarding this restoration of communications, we are perfectly willing to abide by the directives and we can pledge the execution of these agreements. According to the map, we see that the restoration of communications is not yet opened up, but to effect this we have to establish liaison and then this matter can be easily solved. The point of issue now is that even if decisions were made, there would be no free communication. For example, in Ta Tung, we have reached a decision on the food problem and requested liaison officers be sent to our side so that we can make discussions, but that officer was rejected. As to the siege of the town, it can be easily settled and food can be sent in, provided liaison officers are established to work out the details. As to the Communist member of this team, it is true that he is not very well acquainted with the present situation because he was sent from the northwest, so that he is only familiar with the northwestern part. He was sent as an emergency member and therefore he has not [Page 495] had time to make a preliminary study of his function and he also had difficulties in setting up the radio station. He was not able to establish very intimate relations with Colonel Holly and therefore they are having some misunderstandings. That is what I have found out. On this, I think improvements should be made. As to the exchange of radio messages, the Communist team member has promised to furnish Colonel Holly with information, but actually he has received very little information. That is a fact. On the other hand, it appears that it is not necessary and proper to convey all the directives he may have obtained. As to the military movements on the part of Governor Yen, he has also informed the team about it, but this was not presented in today’s report. When saying this, I have only in mind to improve the relations between the team members. It is perfectly agreeable to me if General Marshall will later show the minutes here to Colonel Holly. But what I am particularly concerned with is the relations between the team members to be improved. I am doing my best to the Communist member, using every means that we can find out, as to how we can be assured that all directives will be carried out. I have for this specific purpose asked General Chen Keng to come here and I also have a representative of General Ho Lung here and I can assure you gentlemen on the Communist part we will do our best for its execution but I think it is also necessary that we should make some endeavor on the part of Governor Yen.
Gen. Chang Chih Chung: “I ask you to permit me to tell you a joke before hand. When General Chou seems to have a little temper, and since the trip to Tsinan, I have some temper, I have tried to restrain it. Before this conference, I was talking to the Government officer and in the conversation I drank 4 glasses of water to quell my temper.
“From my experience, we come across one common problem. That common problem is in all those field teams there seems to have failed to execute all instructions given by Executive Headquarters. As least, that is my understanding. From the day I left Chungking, I repeated that I do not want to find out which side was wrong or which side is right. The facts lay before us show evidently that in many field teams, they failed to carry out instructions given by Executive Headquarters; for instance, HO–2 and HO–3, etc. For instance, about the repair of roads in these areas. The Communists seem to insist on the destruction of those towers. It does not comply with the basic spirit of the restoration of communications.
“The question is the interpretation of the orders. General Yeh thinks it is a question of orders. As I said once before, I am not concerned with who is right or wrong. I simply pointed out the facts.
[Page 496]“In this area we have visited many towns still in a besieged state. For instance, Shen Hsien, there are refugees at the airfield and asked for the lift of siege because the food is very scarce. They eat grass and human meat.”
Gen. Chou En-Lai: “That report is a rumor.”
Gen. Chang Chih Chung: “Based upon the information I have, the directives have been sent to the field teams for those troops which are surrounding any cities should withdraw 30 kilometers, but in none of these instances have the Communists complied with that directive so the state of siege will [still?] exists everywhere. At this moment, we should not argue about which side is right and which side is wrong. In order that the hostilities cease and the communications be restored, I hope that the Executive Headquarters will handle those problems based on the spirit which created a spirit in the Committee of Three in Chungking [and?] will work out a practical plan to solve these problems. Let us have a cool mind. Don’t be disturbed by prejudices. I will try very hard to have a cool mind to make things cooperative. I hope every side will have a mutual understanding and let us not talk about right or wrong.
“This is my view and I would like to listen to your views or comments.”
Gen. Marshall: “What I would like to know is what is the best policy to pursue here for the rest of the evening and for possibly tomorrow morning?”
Gen. Chou En-Lai: “It appears to me that it is not necessary to postpone our meeting to next morning and I think there are three points we have to reach and make a decision. First, it should be no question about it since General Chang also concurs with me that all directives from Executive Headquarters should be implemented. Second, the liaison system should be established at places as assigned by the Executive Headquarters and in accordance with its directives. Third, I think we can find some method to improve the relations of the team members. I would like to hear some suggestions from you gentlemen—particularly General Marshall. I have one suggestion to make. I have the impression that it seems necessary that the team should have chance to move around so that it can go to the area of one party and then to the other party. Then we could have the whole picture. If we reach a decision on these three points, the whole matter can be solved.”
Gen. Marshall: “I am very glad to have that suggestion. We only have about two minutes left. We can’t settle this in two minutes. Should we meet after dinner here? Who would attend the meeting?”
Gen. Chang Chih Chung: “I agree to carry on the meeting after dinner.”
[Page 497]Gen. Marshall: “It is not advisable to bring the commanders in.”
Gen. Chang Chih Chung: “I have no comment.”
Gen. Chou En-Lai: “Probably in the dinner there will be a lot of Commanders there. If General Marshall will take that opportunity to explain to them, that will serve the purpose.”
Gen. Marshall: “Should we bring the team members in here after dinner? Maybe at the end of our talk, because no opinion has been expressed to them at all.”
Gen. Chou En-Lai: “They shouldn’t be present at the discussion but should come in after the discussion.”
Gen. Chang Chih Chung: “I have no comment.”
Gen. Marshall: “It will be arranged that the team members will be available to come in on call when we have completed our discussion. We will meet after dinner just as now.70 Have you any comment other than that?”
Mr. Robertson: “Now is the time to clear up this misunderstanding. I don’t think we can clear it up by dodging the issue.”
Gen. Chang Chih Chung: “I suggest that after dinner to have one hour rest before we call the meeting so that General Marshall can have time to rest. I will make use of the extra hour to talk to my people to gather some data.”
Gen. Marshall: “That is agreeable to me, but you may not be able to wake me up then.”
“General Chou made a suggestion that I do a bit of talking about this at the dinner tonight.”
Gen. Chou En-Lai: “To emphasize the necessity of spirit to abide by various agreements not only for the good of people of Shansi, but for the people of China as a whole.”
- Record of conversation at scheduled evening meeting not found in Department files.↩