Foreign Relations of the United States, 1946, The Far East: China, Volume IX

Marshall Mission Files, Lot 54–D270

Memorandum by the Chinese Minister of War (Chen Cheng) to General Marshall

No. 1288

[Chungking,] 21 May 1946.

In response to your letter dated 21 April 1946, relegated to this Ministry by the Generalissimo, I wish to present the following opinions:

(1) It seems that the training of cadres of Chinese Communist troops and the equipment for the Communist forces should be taken up separately as a separate problem.

(2) Concurrence is with the establishment of a school at Kalgan first for the training of the cadres of the Communist troops.

(3) Equipment needed for the training school may be supplied to the necessary extent for training of the cadres of the Communist troops which will participate in the general reorganization.

(4) Equipping of the Communist troops could be started after the reorganization when a unified command is established.

(5) In regard to the equipment listed in General Wedemeyer’s memorandum,⁵⁹ with the exception of that part required for training which may be issued, they may be turned over to the National Government (as they are Lend-Lease materials) for temporary keeping.

Chen Cheng

General, CA

59. Refers apparently to Lieutenant General Wedemeyer’s memorandum No. 901–7 (not found in Department files), presented to President Chiang by General Wedemeyer on his “last trip to Chungking”, and “which outlined in general the equipment for the Communist Training Program and requesting [sic] that Nationalist Government accept transfer of this equipment for the Communists on a cash reimbursable lend-lease basis.”