Marshall Mission Files, Lot 54–D270
Extracts of Minutes of Meeting Between General Marshall and General Yu Ta-wei at No. 5 Ning Hai Road, Nanking, August 28, 1946, 9:45 a.m.
| Also present: | Col. Hutchin |
General Yu: The Generalissimo has instructed me to take up with you, all matters pertaining to recent discussions with the Generalissimo and his recent instructions to Dr. Soong. I have had a report from General Pee7 but wish now to hear it from you as I am confused on certain points.
General Marshall: The Generalissimo made an initial statement yesterday that seemed to solve everything; in fact, it was in perfect accord with what General Chou had set forth as his proposals for several months. However, when I probed into the statement with questions on particular items, I found that there were exceptions to be made bringing matters back to their original status in negotiations, except as to his agreement for the formation of the special committee.
For example, the Generalissimo stated that once the State Council was formed, it would then be able to resolve all political issues. I asked the Generalissimo if that would apply to the local government [Page 87] problem in Northern Kiangsu, to which the Generalissimo answered, “No, that is an exception.”
Regarding the recent public statement of General Chou and Democratic League representatives to the effect that what was desired was an order for cease-firing and a reconvening of the PCC, the Generalissimo told me that in his view, an order for cease-firing was not required as this had already been provided for in the agreement of 10 January. He also stated that the PCC had discharged its functions by reaching certain agreements and that he saw no purpose in reconvening that Council, the State Council could handle such matters.
Regarding the Generalissimo’s statement that a cease-fire order was not necessary because the agreement of 10 January provided for the cessation of hostilities, I asked the Generalissimo if he meant what he really said for, if so, there were many places where Nationalist forces had moved in and from which they would then have to be evacuated. Was it the Generalissimo’s intention to withdraw from such places in Kiangsu, along the Tsingtao RR line, etc.?
The Generalissimo discussed the railroad first and, in effect, said that the National Government forces had not occupied any places since 13 January that were properly Communist places. I could not agree to this and the Generalissimo then stated he would make a check.
General Yu: Do you think that the Communists really and sincerely want to stop fighting and really want a cessation of hostilities?
General Marshall: Emphatically yes. That has been their contention for a very long period of time. What the Communists have done is exactly what I told the Generalissimo they would do, before he departed for Kuling. The Communists in my opinion are not intending to make strong demands for reconvening the PCC but they do feel that the Generalissimo is trying to walk away from the PCC and its agreements. In my opinion, the Communists are insisting upon positive evidence that the resolutions of the PCC are still being considered. That explains their insistence on confirming the actions of the special committee by the PCC Steering Committee.
The Generalissimo then mentioned that I had once expressed a view that when fighting spread north (meaning Jehol), it would immediately spread into Manchuria. The Generalissimo thought that the Communists would be fighting now in Manchuria if they could derive military advantage from so doing, and pointed out the peaceful conditions now prevalent in Manchuria. I told the Generalissimo that I did not agree with this estimate of the Manchuria situation. Also that his statement was inconsistent with previous statements he had made to me to the effect that the Communists and the Soviets both [Page 88] wished to operate in Manchuria under the cloak of the Central Government.
When I told the Generalissimo of General Chou’s written statement concerning offensive operations about to be launched by Government forces in Shantung and against Chengte, and also about rumors that the Government was shipping gas to Hsuchow, the Generalissimo told me to tell General Chou that, in the first place, the Nationalist forces had no gas and, in the second place, Tatung is in the same war zone as Chengte (the 12th). Naturally they must proceed with force in order to meet the aggressive actions of the Communists.
I asked the Generalissimo to explain his conception of the cessation of hostilities agreement of 10 January but I did not get anything definite.
I took over then and outlined a possible procedure. First, assume that this small group of Dr. Stuart’s is organized, assume that they have a meeting and are able to reach an agreement, assume that this agreement is confirmed by the Steering Committee of the PCC and that representatives for the State Council were duly nominated, and possibly that even the State Council had its first formal gathering, then it might be possible to terminate the fighting in somewhat the manner they had prescribed and agreed to for Manchuria. This is one procedure. Certainly fighting cannot go on simultaneously with negotiations in the State Council. The Generalissimo told me that this idea appealed to him and that he would give it careful thought. The Generalissimo also sent a letter to Dr. Soong, which he wrote during lunch, with instructions to nominate representatives to this special group of Dr. Stuart’s.
Now, going back to my statement that when fighting breaks out of control in Jehol it will spread to Manchuria, I want you to keep it in mind, and not come to me with a complaint about the fighting started in Manchuria. I think that the Government will probably have success in and around Chengte. Perhaps the Communists will then retaliate, but there is no question in my mind that the Communists do wish to stop fighting. There is also no doubt in my mind, on the other hand, that certain Government military leaders wish to continue the fighting in an effort to gain certain local advantages.
General Yu: The Communists should know very well by now that the Government will not accept any cease-fire agreement so long as the Communists continue to retain hold on certain places without giving up those illegally held. What territory are they willing to give up?
General Marshall: I do not now know what territories the Communists might be willing to give up, although I did at one time when [Page 89] the Communists were setting forth their proposals and making certain concessions. The Communists would probably be willing to continue on the 10 January basis but the Government never gave that a fair trial. There would be little point to delaying and investigating for another month until the situation was beyond negotiations. As it is, the Communists will think I connived with the Generalissimo to cause this additional delay of three days while I waited in Kuling to get the Generalissimo’s answer to my proposal of last Saturday.8
General Yu: This question of cessation of hostilities is so important that it could invalidate the effectiveness of the State Council. You said General Chou agreed to Communist participation in the State Council. Do I also understand that it is your view that this small group is not to become involved in handling all the other problems that will be brought up by the Communists?
General Marshall: Dr. Stuart and I proposed this procedure, this special committee, in order to get one basic step taken. We would confine our participation in discussions within this small group to establishing a State Council only, and we would avoid entering into the ramifications of the PCC, at least at this time. If the Communists do bring up other matters, it may be necessary to make some such statement as that but we do not want to do it now.
There are two main points that I want you to take away with you. First, this State Council should be established at the earliest practicable date as a means of going ahead with negotiations for a peaceful settlement. Second, there is no doubt but what the Communists want to stop fighting, but how long this will continue to be their state of mind I cannot say. If this fighting spreads to Manchuria, it means that you are inviting Russia to enter into the affairs of China. It will be your own undoing.
If we get this State Council established, it may be possible to compromise many other things upon which there is, at present, disagreement. It at least provides a common debating ground. The Government should nominate its two members immediately, giving important consideration to who is selected. Certainly, there would be no point to selecting someone with a frozen mind or someone unfamiliar with the current negotiations as he would be just an impossible person with whom to negotiate.
General Yu: I am going over to see Doctor Soong on these matters and I will keep your points in mind.