Marshall Mission Files, Lot 54–D270
Memoradum by General Chou En-lai to General Marshall 85
Dear General Marshall: I learnt very reliably that the Nationalist forces are contemplating fulfilling their war scheme within the next two or three weeks in the following three regions:
- (1)
- Along the Lunghai Railroad, to the east, west and north of Hsuchow, the assault being directed toward south Shantung and east Honan.
- (2)
- Along the Tsingtao–Tsinan Railroad.
- (3)
- In Jehol Province, the objective being Chengteh. The main drive will be made from the eastern end, primarily undertaken by the 13th, 93rd and 53rd Army, the last being a new arrival from south China. Other army units in the Peiping–Tientsin base will strike out to support that drive.
According to the same information, the Nationalist forces will use poison gas in their imminent drive. Seeing that the several hundred air raids by the Nationalists of late have inflicted immense suffering to the Communist populace, the employment of gas-warfare, which is even outlawed in international charter, would place the Nationalists [Page 69] in the eyes of the world on an equal footing with the German fascists in point of atrocity and barbarism.
You are requested, when in Kuling, to take up this matter with Generalissimo, and warn him against such a move, especially the use of poison gas. Should the Nationalist none-the-less decide to employ chemical warfare, we will feel forced to make a broad appeal to the entire country as well as to the world.
- An attached memorandum, about August 23, by Col. J. Hart Caughey informed General Marshall: “Mr. Chang Wen-chin [General Chou’s secretary] just called to say that General Chou wanted to be sure that you saw the attached before you went to Kuling. The implication being that he will probably request verbally that you discuss this matter with the Gimo.”↩