Marshall Mission Files, Lot 54–D270
Minutes of Meeting Between General Marshall and Doctor Stuart at No. 5 Ning Hai Road, Nanking, August 9, 1946, 9:30 a.m.
| Also present: | Colonel Caughey |
Ambassador Stuart opened the meeting by giving General Marshall a summary of his meeting with General Chou En Lai on 7 [6] August 1946. Doctor Stuart stated that General Chou had done most of the talking and that when he submitted to General Chou the Generalissimo’s terms, General Chou appeared shocked. General Chou had stated that he believed that this whole matter possibly should be put back into the discussions for the complete termination of hostilities which were in progress toward the end of June as items of unfinished business. The Ambassador stated that General Chou had objected to each and every one of the terms, making a comment on only one aspect of the terms. This comment had to do with the possible resolution of one of the terms (which indicated that Communists must withdraw from towns occupied in Shantung and Shansi Province since 7 June 1946) if the National Government, also within these same two provinces, would evacuate towns occupied by them since 7 June. Doctor Stuart said he pointed out to General Chou that if the Communists could possibly accept the terms of the National Government, that he (Doctor Stuart) would see that the Communists received fair treatment with reference to the implementation of terms and that by accepting his terms, the Communists would indicate to the world their sincerity in the desire for peace in China. Dr. Stuart [Page 1472] said he felt that General Chou En Lai was now waiting for further instructions from Yenan.
General Marshall informed Doctor Stuart that he was concerned over Mr. Robertson’s report59 concerning the delay and confusion being employed by the Communists of Executive Headquarters with respect to the investigating committee that was supposed to have studied the An-ping Marine incident. He read parts of 6588 (Mr. Robertson’s report on this subject). General Marshall continued by stating that he did not think that he could tolerate this attitude on the part of the Communists and was developing in his own mind a procedure for handling the matter with General Chou En Lai. He told the Ambassador that he proposed to approach General Chou somewhat as follows: To tell General Chou that the Communist attitude in this respect was playing directly into the hands of the National Government, and also to inform him that this attitude was intolerable from the U. S. point of view; to tell General Chou that he proposed to send a message to Executive Headquarters instructing the withdrawal of American participation in the investigation and at the same time making a public statement which the world could balance against whatever statement the Communists wish to put out; to tell General Chou that in the event of such action he (General Marshall) was quite sure that the irreconcilables and the die-hards of the National Government would be amused over the fact that the Communist attitude with respect to the investigation definitely proves the general attitude of the Communist Party in all matters; to tell General Chou that Communists’ actions in this respect would go far beyond the An-ping incident itself; to tell General Chou that he (General Marshall) would give him 24 hours to make a decision. General Marshall then asked Dr. Stuart if that approach appeared too extreme. The Ambassador agreed that it was not and stated that he believed the time had come for a showdown.
General Marshall then asked Dr. Stuart what he should tell General Chou if General Chou brings up the question of the Generalissimo’s new terms. Dr. Stuart believed there was probably not much that could be said at this particuar time although he felt that if General Chou brought up the matter, he (General Chou) would suggest some concessions. Doctor Stuart said it was up to General Chou to make the advances.
General Marshall and Doctor Stuart then discussed the brief joint statement which had been prepared by Doctor Stuart. Doctor Stuart said the reason he wished to make such a statement was to try to keep the public better informed and to prevent speculation on the part [Page 1473] of the Press. General Marshall stated that he believed the statement I should either be amplified or not used at all.