Marshall Mission Files, Lot 54–D270: Telegram
Mr. Walter S. Robertson to General Marshall
2264. From Robertson and Byroade. In 601 [601–A] there is quoted a letter from you to General Chou En-lai requesting explanation detention of American Team member at Chihfeng by Communist personnel as reported to you in our Trusum number 98. In a letter from Colonel O. K. Pressley, United States Marine Corps, American [Page 808] Team 2 at Chihfeng, just received here, he furnishes me with substance of statement made by General Toanf [Tung?] Shu Chuan, Communist Party representative on his team who is also second in command Communist troops in that area. This statement followed a 24-hour conference on the subject of restriction of American Team member movements and was made on a highly personal and confidential basis. Request you do not reveal source of this information as it would result in extremely difficult future team relations in this area of Jehol. The statement follows:
“Now what I have to say I want you to consider as personal information. We consider that you have always tried to be fair in your work. You I consider a personal friend of mine. I sincerely hope that what I am about to say will not affect our personal friendship. The reason why you were not permitted to leave the city I will assume responsibility for that. It is like this, your Government’s policy toward China is not one of a friendly attitude toward the Communist Party. Your Government is furnishing ships and planes to transport National Government troops. You are furnishing arms to kill Chinese with. You are lending money to the National Government to wage war on the Communist Party. The Communist Party does not favor any aid to China in any form at the present time. This struggle that is going on in China is something for the Chinese people to settle and the United States will not be able to settle it for us. No results can be achieved until the United States leaves [ceases?] to give aid to the National Government. Further you landed Marines in areas occupied by the Communist[s], later turning these areas over to the National Government. This was done to push us out of the areas. The people of China have lost faith in the American people. We do not subscribe to the policy of General Wedemeyer. We still have confidence in General Marshall but due to the policy of the American Government we cannot state that [what?] he will be able to accomplish. Not only the American members of Field Team 2 are affected, but all teams are about the same. I did not know of your arrest by the soldiers and did not order it, but I believe it to be due to the feeling of the people at present toward the American Government. I assure you that there is nothing personal, that it was caused by Government action. I hope that what I have told will not “interfere with out [our] personal friendship.”
The above statement is the most straightforward we have obtained of present Communist attitude toward Americans. It is believed quite significant as it undoubtedly reflects the propaganda being spread throughout the Communist branch here and in the field. It may well be the cause of their present uncompromising attitude and resistance on practically all attempts at negotiations on even the most unimportant and insignificant details.
Pressley reports the above informant has very limited education but has been for many years an officer in the Communist army and has apparent good knowledge of Communist Party political and military [Page 809] aims. It appears obvious that such an individual would not express such definite opinions on a subject such as our Governmental policy if he were not voicing information furnished him by his superiors in the Communist Party.