Marshall Mission Files, Lot 54–D270
Memorandum by Mr. Liao Cheng-chi to Colonel J. Hart Caughey
Nanking, May 19, 1946.
My Dear Colonel Caughey: Regarding the evacuation of the Communist troops in Kwangtung, I wish to bring up the following points for your consideration:
- 1.
- Up till now General Chang Fa-kwei has not yet confirmed the sum of 374,086,000 CNC as recommended by the three Commissioners, and [Page 706] agreed upon by General Chou En-lai in his memorandum to General Marshall, dated May 14, 1946. It is requested that you will urge upon General Chang Fa-kwei to appropriate that sum to team 8 in two instalments.
- 2.
- Generals Fang Fang and Tseng Sheng have promised that the
evacuating troops will commence the march as soon as that money
is made available. Inasmuch as General Chang Fa-kwei promised as
an initial step to loan necessary food and 100,000,000 CNC,
General Chou En-lai wired to Generals Fang and Tseng to get part
of the troops immediately on the move. However, the current
problems seem to be:
- a.
- Seeing that Communist forces in northern Kwangtung are still being attacked, I suggest that sub-team C with the American members will rush to the spot, investigate the matter and immediately commence to collect and move the Communist troops, so as to avoid any further delay.
- b.
- It is requested that as soon as team 8 has agreed upon the timetable for the commencement of evacuation, collection of troops, and their assemblage at the staging area (which in general should take place not later than at the end of June), the number of LSTs and date of their arrival at Tapeng will be fixed.
- c.
- General Chou accepts the arrangement suggested by General Chang Fa-kwei and transmitted here by Executive Headquarters with regard to providing safety passage of the evacuating Communist personnel, which provides that the Independent 1st Regiment stationed at Lung Kang be replaced by one company of gendarmes, that Tamshui be garrisoned by one battalion and that a five li withdrawal be made by the Nationalist troops along the route of march.
Any comment you may have shall be appreciated.
Liao Cheng-chi