Marshall Mission Files, Lot 54–D270
Memorandum by General Chou En-lai to General Marshall
I just received a message from General Li Hsien-nien saying that Col. Brussel (transliteration from Chinese) and Col. Chen Chien, Nationalist representative of Team 32, Hsuanhwatien, by taking advantage of the opportunity of making an inspection tour to the south, had departed for Hankow through Macheng and Hwangpi on June 7. On same day, the Nationalists sent trucks to Hsuanhwatien to take the American and Nationalist signal officers away. These moves betray that they were planning to withdraw Team 32 from Hsuanhwatien, yet the Communist representative and General Li had not been consulted with. General Li, apart from protesting against this move, suggests that Team 32 should not be withdrawn from its present base, for the situation in East Hupeh area provide[s] ample reasons necessitating the continued operation of the team in the area now under its control. Furthermore, the location of this base has been agreed upon by the Committee of Three on May 8.
I fully endorse General Li’s proposal, and request that you will instruct Executive Headquarters to issue order to Team 32 that all team members should return to Hsuanhwatien and resume their team activities. Should the team members fail to do so, the absent team representatives should be held responsible for any attack that might be [Page 709] launched by the Nationalist troops on General[Li]’s forces on account of their unauthorized absence.
Any comment you may have thereon shall be appreciated.
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