Marshall Mission Files, Lot 54–D270
Minutes of Meeting Between General Marshall and General C. P. Lee81 at No. 5 Ning Hai Road, Nanking, January 7, 1947, 11 a.m.
| Also present: | Captain Soong82 |
General Lee told General Marshall that he had just returned from Shanghai where he had visited many Democratic League members and nonpartisans. He summarized their views as set forth below.
Mr. Mo Te-hui: Mr. Mo seemed to think that if General Marshall could wait patiently in China for another year, the problem could eventually be solved. He suggested that General Marshall should [Page 686] take a passive attitude because, he believed, time alone would solve the problem. He felt that the Government should not be reorganized in the near future because without the Communist Party, reorganization would do more harm than good.
Dr. Lo Lung-chi: Dr. Lo inquired if General Marshall was pressing the Government for reorganization. He felt that the Government was trying to break up the third party group and obtain the loan from the U. S. He further stated that by reorganizing a few departments, the Government would proclaim to the world that democracy had been achieved in China. Then it would attempt to defeat the Communists. Dr. Lo strongly opposed the immediate reorganization of the Government. He felt that peace talks could be resumed and that the Communists still wanted peace. Dr. Lo said the fact that Mr. Tung Pi-wu83 is still remaining in Nanking and the repeated denial of the convocation of a People’s Assembly by Yenan is a good indication that the Communist Party still desires peace.
Mr. Chang Lan (Chairman of the Democratic League): Mr. Chang felt that either the Government would have to make wide reforms or China would break into pieces. He stated that the bandits who are so prevalent in various parts of China could be very easily organized by the Communists. He said that he had tried to persuade the Generalissimo to conduct frequent conversations with men who would tell him the true conditions in China. However, the Generalissimo either was unimpressed or his instructions were not followed by subordinates. Mr. Chang felt that a reorganization of the Government at the present time would be harmful.
Mr. Hu Ling: Mr. Hu also felt that a reorganization of the Government at the present time was unwise. However, he agreed, either the Government would have to reform or a long civil war would result. He felt that there must first be peace before the Government could be reorganized.
A certain General just returned from Manchuria: He felt that although the Government troops had the upper hand in Manchuria, they could not defeat the Communists. The reasons are: 1) Government troops could only occupy certain cities, but never the whole area. 2) All the peasants were organized by the Communists and working for the Communist Party. 3) The generals in the Government’s armies are corrupt and do not command the respect of their subordinates. 4) Government victories largely depended on airplanes and mechanized units. If supplies for these war materials were terminated, [Page 687] they would not continue to win victories. The General continued that the Government had suffered heavy casualties at the front. He also commented that the Communists were extremely good organizers. He stated that two possible conditions would result if the Government refused to make thorough reforms: first, division of Manchuria into two states, one Communist and one Kuomintang; second, a total civil war.
General Lee concluded by suggesting that a clear statement be made by General Marshall saying that the U. S. would be ready to help China as soon as a democratic Government is formed, including the various parties and the Communists. He also suggested that peace talks may possibly be resumed by beginning discussion of the Yellow River Project with Mr. Tung Pi-wu.
General Marshall said that he could not urge the Communist Party to participate in the Government; common decency would not permit him to do so in view of their vicious propaganda. He emphasized that the situation requires courage and patriotism on the part of liberal leaders in China. General Marshall agreed that the Yellow River Project was a good means of attempting revival of negotiations.