Marshall Mission Files, Lot 54–D270: Telegram
General Marshall to Mr. Walter S. Robertson, at Peiping
1561. On 20 September I sent a memorandum93 to Chou En-lai about Communist refusal to hear two Government witnesses, pointing out the investigation had already been delayed well over one month and, as suggested by you, requesting him to instruct the Communist Commissioner to give the necessary instructions for the hearing of the two witnesses in question and to proceed in accordance with the agreed procedure.
Chou En-lai’s reply just received and paraphrased is as follows:
“Dear General Marshall: As yet there is no report in my hands from General Yeh Chien-ying regarding the true cause of delay in the investigation of the Anping incident. As I understand, the two eye-witnesses suggested by the Government side are most inappropriate for four reasons; first, if the Government troops were not involved in the Anping incident, how could they feel so sure that they had taken captive a Communist who had participated in the Anping incident. Second, the Government representative stated that the two eye witnesses were suggested by the Deputy Chief of Staff of General Sun Lien-chung, the Commander of the 11th War Zone, when the 25th Team was interviewing General Sun. This assertion however was not supported by the official record. Third, it is doubtful that the oxen cart owner may have any connection with the Anping incident and that his testimony will furnish a clue to the whole affair. Fourth, if it is alleged that the Communist soldier was captured at Houhsiwu on 3 August, then this seems rather ridiculous to throw much light on an incident that took place at a different place and different time, except bearing evidence that the Government troops had illegally attacked Houhsiwu.
I hesitate to issue a detailed instruction to the Communist representatives of the Executive Headquarters as to what definite steps should be taken at this moment, although I do agree with your view that the investigation should be expedited. In my instruction to General Yeh I laid stress that the cooperation among the three parties should be sought and that the investigation of the Anping incident should be expedited.”
- Not found in Department files.↩