Marshall Mission Files, Lot 54–D270
Press Release Issued by General Chou En-lai, Thursday, June 6, 1946, 4 p.m.
The Chinese Communist Party is advocating all the time an unconditional and true termination of civil warfare, which applies to [Page 983] hostilities in China proper and those in Manchuria as well. It is due to the persistence of the Chinese Communist Party, the aspiration of the Chinese people, and the efforts exerted by General Marshall, that Generalissimo’s issuance of orders to halt all advances, attacks and pursuits in Manchuria for a period of 15 days and negotiation on the following matters are secured:
- a.
- Detailed arrangements to govern a complete termination of hostilities in Manchuria.
- b.
- Detailed arrangements, and time schedules, for the complete restoration of communications in China, and
- c.
- A definite basis for carrying out without further delay the agreement of February 25, 1946, for the demobilization, reorganization and integration of the armed forces in China.
Though we feel concerned over the shortness of the 15 day period, and that the inevitable involvement of political subjects pertaining to Manchuria, or even China as a whole, into the forthcoming negotiation would call for a longer period for discussion, we concur with the 15 day cease fire arrangement, having in mind that no opportunity for the realization of peace should be skipped over. In doing so, we will exert our best efforts toward bringing negotiation to a success. We hope that the Kuomintang, in compliance with the desire of the Chinese people as well as nations abroad, would demonstrate in good faith their intention to carry out the agreements they had previously signed, and make the temporary armistice a lasting truce with advances, attacks and pursuits stopped forever.