Marshall Mission Files, Lot 54–D270: Telegram
Mr. Walter S. Robertson to General Marshall
6588. Yenan and Communist Branch [of] Executive Headquarters apparently are making every effort to color and confuse the Anping issue (re your 126449). Press releases in Yenan and Communist Branch Press interviews here are stating that Communists are pressing for prompt team investigation while National Government and American representatives Executive Headquarters are delaying such investigation. The truth is exactly the reverse. Communists have been employing every conceivable tactic to delay and obstruct the investigation.
For your information the facts are as follows: On August 1 both Chinese Commissioners requested investigation of incident. In view of position previously taken I immediately wired for your consent (re our 626850). At 8:55 p.m. August 1 your 122451 was received. The next morning August 2 Commissioners signed order authorizing Team 25 to make investigation. At same time General Yeh was requested in memorandum to obtain assurance of safe conduct for team from appropriate field commanders and to “determine the place, date and hour, but not later than noon Monday August 5, most suitable to local Communist Party field commanders for Team 25 to establish contact with them.” It was not until morning of August 6 that message guaranteeing safe conduct of team was delivered by Communist Commissioner, and no reply has yet been made to our request to name place, date and hour team can contact Communist field commanders.
In the meantime Colonel Davis attempted to proceed with examination of those eye witnesses to event who were still in Peiping. This procedure was blocked by Communist member, General Huang.52 On Sunday August 4 General Huang did not show up for meeting but sent a subordinate with no credentials. Consequently no action could [Page 1464] be taken. The next morning General Huang appeared but took up the entire day from approximately 9:15 in the morning to 3:30 in the afternoon arguing as to procedure. He demanded that team first proceed to Tientsin to interview General Rockey, then return to Peiping to interview General Sun, Commander 11th War Zone Headquarters here, then proceed to field to interview unnamed commander of an unidentified Communist unit. He flatly stated he would not agree to the examination of any witnesses until these interviews had been accomplished. He further stated that he would not officially accept as credible evidence the testimony of any American eye witness who was present in the convoy. He also questioned propriety of American acting as team chairman and suggested instead that chairmanship be rotated. In his long haranguing speech he was often near insulting to American member and appeared to be trying to arouse his anger. The rest of the afternoon was taken up in debate between the Communist and National Government members on the latter’s challenge of General Huang’s eligibility to be a member of the investigation team. Next morning August 6 Colonel Davis called as witnesses Major Freese53 and Mister Duke54 both of this Headquarters who were present in the convoy at the time of the attack. Whereupon the Communist member took the floor and for 2 hours again insisted that the procedure he formerly recommended be adopted. When Colonel Davis reminded him that the witnesses had long been kept waiting asked permission to examine them, the Communist member flatly refused and the meeting was adjourned.
This morning August 7th the team reconvened at 0900 o’clock. Colonel Davis reports entire morning up till 1130 was taken up by Communist member General Huang again reiterating his demands that before team could visit scene of conflict, interviews must be held in order previously outlined and further that following these interviews the team must decide unanimously on witnesses before they could be called to testify or be interviewed. Witnesses standing by who had been brought up from Tientsin were not allowed to be examined. Deadlock being considered at Commissioners meeting today results of which you will be advised later.
It appears that the Communist representatives are under orders from higher level to delay and obstruct investigation as long as possible, utilizing the time gained thereby to get firmly fixed in public mind their version of incident and at same time throwing responsibility for delay upon the National Government and American Branches.