Marshall Mission Files. Lot 54–D270
Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek to General Marshall
My Dear General Marshall: I am fundamentally in agreement with the proposal contained in your letter of May 26th. In connection with the implementation of your proposal and to render even clearer its meaning and purpose, I should like to place before you the following points. The painful experience I have encountered during the past five months compels me to be more precise and definite in dealing with the Communists. The following points, therefore, I earnestly hope, will have your full understanding and support.
- 1.
- As to your proposal that I issue orders that the National Forces should halt their advances, attacks and pursuits of the Communists, that is not only your earnest desire but also what I had in mind when I took the recent trip to the Northeast. I have today, therefore, issued orders to the National Forces in Manchuria that, for a period of fifteen days, as from noon tomorrow until noon of the 21st June, Government troops should halt all advances, attacks and pursuits of the Communists. This I am doing in the hope that a satisfactory detailed arrangement of all signed agreements can be reached within this period. But I must ask you to secure the assurance of the Communists that the Agreement for Army Reorganization will be immediately and first put into effect in the Northeast. Within this period I must also ask you to formulate, and let me know the concrete measures, for the enforcement of the complete Plan of February 25th for the reorganization and integration of the armed forces. As regards the despatch of an advance section of the Executive Headquarters to the Northeast, as proposed by Your Excellency and the Communist representative, it may be sent to Changchun for preparatory work, but of course does not start work until concrete measures are settled.
- 2.
- Regarding the repair of railways and the restoration of communications, I feel that the determining authority in these matters should be given to the American representative who will fix the time schedule for its final completion. Otherwise, there will be no guarantee for its realization.
- 3.
- I wish to emphasize that the sacred responsibility of restoring the sovereign rights of Manchuria to the Government should not be delayed. Therefore, the Government maintains freedom of action regarding the restoration of sovereignty as contained in the Cease Fire Agreement of January 10th, and this position must be upheld at all times. For example, if the Chinese Communists continue to attack the Government Forces, as they are doing right now at places [Page 985] near Haichen, south of Changchun, the Government troops reserve to themselves the right to counter-attack.
Yours sincerely,