Marshall Mission Files, Lot 54–D270
Minutes of Conference Between General Marshall and Dr. T. V. Soong at No. 5 Ning Hai Road, Nanking, August 22, 1946, 10 a.m.
| Also present: | Captain Soong |
General Marshall stated that Dr. Stuart had a conference with General Chou to discuss Dr. Stuart’s original proposal concerning representation on the State Council. General Chou is prepared to submit names of Communist representatives if agreements are reached by Dr. Stuart’s small group and if these agreements are formally confirmed by the Steering Committee of the PCC. General Chou’s main concern at the moment was whether the Generalissimo’s 5 military conditions would or would not be set aside while political agreements were being sought by Dr. Stuart’s small group. General Marshall stated that he did not know the answer to that question.
General Marshall said the Generalissimo was anxious to find out if the Communists were ready to appoint State Council members but that queries in this direction should not appear as his (the Generalissimo’s) request. It should appear as a concession on the part of the National Government. The Generalissimo would not agree to the cessation of hostilities prior to arriving at some agreement on the State Council. The Generalissimo did not want it implied to General Chou that he is proposing the organization of the State Council. He did not want to have it appear that he stipulated that there be no discussion by Dr. Stuart’s small group of the reorganization of the Executive Yuan.
[Page 63]The Generalissimo made the comment that the Communist Party had previously declined to nominate their people for the State Council, but General Marshall told the Generalissimo that the Communist Party had changed its view. The Generalissimo inquired as to where General Marshall obtained this information. General Marshall stated that he had received the information through the Democratic League. The Generalissimo stated that he did not have confidence in such a statement by the Democratic League and wanted to be sure. Consequently Colonel Caughey was instructed to call on General Chou who said that the Communist Party is ready to nominate representatives to the State Council providing agreement is reached by Dr. Stuart’s small group and providing arrangements are made for termination of hostilities. This was given to the press by the Communist Party.
General Marshall said that he did not think it would be too difficult to reach solutions on military issues if an early agreement is reached on the matter of the State Council, unless additional conditions are introduced. However, General Marshall feared that, if the present situation continues, fighting in Jehol may develop, which would inevitably be followed by fighting in Manchuria.
General Marshall stated that he had not seen General Chou since his return from Kuling. He was waiting for General Chou to call on him to explain some of the recent actions of the Communist Party.
General Marshall said he was trying to coordinate the China situation with the rest of the world. He believed in the near future President Truman will feel it necessary to make a public statement but he did not now know the form the statement will take.
Dr. Soong then said that he wanted to see General Chou and talk to him more generally on the present situation. General Marshall concurred in this idea and thought, through this means, Dr. Soong would find out for himself the degree of General Chou’s sincerity. General Marshall stated that he wanted the Generalissimo to talk with General Chou privately for the same reason.
General Marshall then commented on the fear and suspicion on both sides. He stated these fears and suspicions have caused the situation to be extremely difficult.
Dr. Soong then stated that he is going to keep the conference with General Chou on a private level and that he would not issue any public statement to the press. To this General Marshall agreed.