Marshall Mission Files, Lot 54–D270: Telegram
Brigadier General Henry A. Byroade to Lieutenant General Alvan C. Gillem, Jr., and Mr. Walter S. Robertson
1322. Communist Commissioner, General Yeh has just requested that the Executive Headquarters take action on the excessive movement of Chinese National Armies into Manchuria. He stated that, according to his information, 6 armies were now in Manchuria and 5 more were enroute. He listed the 52d, 13th, New First, New 7th, 71st, 94th, and New 27th as being all or in part already in Manchuria. Those armies enroute he listed as the 93rd, 2d, 5th, 60th, and 88th. Our information indicates that 3 armies are in Manchuria (52nd, New 1st and New 6th) with the 71st Army now debarking at Chin-huang Tao [Chinwangtao]. Two armies (93rd and 60th) are enroute according to our information. The 13th is in Jehol near Manchuria border.
General Yeh requested that Executive Headquarters take action to stop those armies now enroute before teams departed to Manchuria. He indicated that agreement reached while Marshall was still in Chungking specified only 5 National Armies in Manchuria. I replied that, to my knowledge, the agreement he spoke of was part of the army reorganization program which listed 5 National armies in Manchuria at the end of 12 months. I also stated that this agreement as to the eventual number of armies in Manchuria could not, [Page 714] in my opinion, be used as the criteria for deciding number of armies that should move to Manchuria at this time for the purpose of reestablishing Chinese sovereignty. I further indicated that Executive Hqs did not have the necessary information or instructions to properly handle this request. I stated that, if the Communist Party desired to make representation on this matter, it should be done by General Chou En-lai in Chungking. General Yeh agreed. This is the tip-off on another matter that may come before your committee. The question of course is how many armies are required to reestablish Chinese sovereignty.
New subject: As matter of interest to Robertson, General Yeh today volunteered to dispatch of railway teams directives with which he is familiar.