The China Mission

by Daniel Kurtz-Phelan

  78 “Mao’s housekeeper” Wilson, Zhou, 123; “conditions outside” Wilson, Zhou, 138; “A revolution” Taylor, Generalissimo, 61; Zhou took notes White, In Search, 186.

  78–79 inkwell Han, Eldest, 141; five assassins Pantsov, Mao, 247.

  79 Reporters in need of copy Edgar Snow, Red Star Over China, 76; government spokesmen Stephen R. MacKinnon, China Reporting, 82; Even when . . . he was lying Henry Byroade Oral History, Foreign Service Oral History Program, LOC; code name List of aliases, John Paton Davies Papers 11/4, HSTL.

  79 Over dinner John Melby Oral History, HSTL; tentative English conversation Wilson, Zhou, 144; flirtatious streak Gao, Zhou, 47; never seemed to get drunk Han, Eldest, 202; called him Joe Henry Byroade Oral History, Foreign Service Oral History Program, LOC; When he wanted to flatter them White, In Search, 84.

  79 “They are vigorous” John King Fairbank, Chinabound, 307; “not the clothes” Han, Eldest, 191; “Don’t be impatient” Kai-yu Hsu, Chou En-Lai, 167.

  79 “Expose the darkness” Michael M. Sheng, “America’s Lost Chance in China?,” 150.

  80 Mao dispensed advice on handling Chiang Service, Lost, 302; more cooperative Service, Lost, 307; shrank from combat Michael M. Sheng, Battling Western Imperialism, 49; “If you land” Sheng, Battling, 90; visit Roosevelt Barbara W. Tuchman, “If Mao Had Come to Washington,” 44.

  80 “The KMT tries” Heinzig, Soviet Union, 40; a crafty merchant Heinzig, Soviet Union, 41; Monopoly, the situation John S. Service Oral History, Foreign Service Oral History Program, LOC; “a unified group” Service, Lost, 198.

  80–81 signed off on Dixie Carter, Mission, 19; radio gear Yu, OSS, 166; lessons in spycraft Yu, OSS, 188; would have equipped Carter, Mission, 145.

  81 on a flight Barrett, Dixie, 65.

  81 Roosevelt got a copy Schaller, U.S. Crusade, 21; “fired by the belief” Snow, Red Star, 125; “rural equalitarianism” Snow, Red Star, 219.

  81–82 “cave Marxists” Pantsov, Mao, 4; peasant armies Odd Arne Westad, Brothers in Arms, 49; “a cross between” Belden, China Shakes, 168; “Eagle Scout behavior” Davies, China Hand, 26; “gung ho” Davies, China Hand, 27; Mao mused Sheng, Battling, 82; “the most conservative” Service, Lost, 307; “The Communist political program” Sheng, Battling, 77; even avowed haters of Communism Leahy diary, 11 December 1945, William D. Leahy Papers, LOC.

  82 “bill of goods” Taylor, Generalissimo, 299; “sinister intentions” Stilwell to GCM, 30 March 1944, GCM Papers 60/55, GCMRL.

  82 “Not that I like” Carter, Mission, 139; “Chiang could not whip” Service, Lost, 384.

  82 military intelligence Lyman P. Van Slyke, The Chinese Communist Movement.

  83 first encounter with Stalin Marshall, Together, 167.

  83–84 “President’s attitude” Wallace, Price, 520; “anti-Russian” Stoler, George C. Marshall, 159; Dexter White Pogue, Statesman, 152; hard-liners Harriman, Special Envoy, 503.

  84 “created conditions” AW to GCM, 8 September 1945, GCM Papers 90/22, GCMRL; “effective machine” Ernest R. May, The Truman Administration and China, 8.

  84 “Soviet policy” Cohen, America’s Response, 149.

  84 “as serfs” Short, Mao, 195; “bloc within” Michael H. Hunt, The Genesis of Chinese Communist Foreign Policy, 108; “babble” Heinzig, Soviet Union, 220; his death Westad, Brothers in Arms, 15.

  84–85 forbade his execution Pantsov, Mao, 301; Soviet weapons Paine, Wars, 344; Soviets grumbled Heinzig, Soviet Union, 34; questionably Communist Westad, Cold War, 38; “obviously too weak” Niu Jun, From Yan’an to the World, 77; without much Soviet support Westad, Brothers in Arms, 6; “over to Moscow” Heinzig, Soviet Union, 8.

  85 “We should listen” Heinzig, Soviet Union, 33; “voice from the remote place” Sheng, Battling, 23.

  85 “Stalin’s pupils” Bernstein, China, 251; ready to fight Sheng, Battling, 101; Sino-Soviet Treaty Mitter, Forgotten Ally, 355; orders to Mao Niu, From Yan’an, 196.

  85–86 set a new course, directive Chen, Mao’s, 28; “way of France” Heinzig, Soviet Union, 77; “a good washing” Taylor, Generalissimo, 317.

  86 contorted analysis Sheng, Battling, 105; pointed out that overt Soviet support Chen, Mao’s, 28; “Third world war” Sheng, Battling, 104; his own execution Pantsov, Mao, 346.

  86 Communist infiltration Tanner, Where, 31; staged firefight Tanner, Battle, 55; “diplomatic embarrassment” Tony Saich, The Rise to Power of the Chinese Communist Party, 1270; The Soviets also Heinzig, Soviet Union, 90; considerable benefit Bruce A. Elleman in Bruce A. Elleman, Naval Coalition Warfare, 127.

  86 “greater the current victory” Niu, From Yan’an, 229.

  86–87 recalled Soviet representatives Westad, Decisive, 31; threatened to use tanks Westad, Cold War, 125; refused to hand over Harold M. Tanner, “Guerrilla, Mobile, and Base Warfare in Communist Military Operations in Manchuria,” 1189; “puzzled and disappointed” Spector, In the Ruins, 42; hammer-and-sickle tattoo Tanner, “Guerrilla,” 1189; Soviets stood by Heinzig, Soviet Union, 91.

  87 After ten days GCM to HST, 1 January 1946, Naval Aide Files 8/9, HST Papers, HSTL.

  87 resistant, quickly amenable GCM to HST, 1 January 1946, Naval Aide Files 8/9, HST Papers, HSTL; public call for Marshall Washington Post 1 January 1946.

  87 “prospects for domestic peace” Marshall cables, 3 January 1946, GCM Papers 24/1, GCMRL; “no hope for unity” JM to Hellman, 9 November 1945, JM Papers 36, HSTL; “a sort of truce” JM to Hellman, 3 January 1946, JM Papers 36, HSTL.

  87 Communists were persuaded Zhang in Bland, George C. Marshall’s, 214; “He holds that the Communist army” Qin Xiaoyi, The Chronicles of President ­Chiang, Vol. 5.2, 2750.

  88 “role of referee” New York Times 1 January 1946; “I was here” FRUS 1946 Vol. 9, 790; Recent negotiations Lutze, China’s, 35; “worse than beasts” Jung Chang, Mao, 297; “gangster” Service, Lost, 302; “turtle’s egg” Barrett, Dixie, 74; “Fascist chieftain” James Reardon-Anderson, Yenan and the Great Powers, 100; “stubborn heart” Belden, China Shakes, 263.

  88 Stalin had explicitly warned Heinzig, Soviet Union, 67; worse than facing Japan Taylor, Generalissimo, 310; “we cannot use” Simei Qing, From Allies to Enemies, 66; “We are striving sincerely” FRUS 1945 Vol. 7, 566; radio broadcast New York Times 1 January 1946.

  88–89 “fed up with war” Zhang in Bland, George C. Marshall’s, 207; Stalin told them Odd Arne Westad, “Losses, Chances, and Myths,” 107; too weak Levine, Anvil, 42.

  89 “the sympathy” He Di in Bland, George C. Marshall’s, 182; path of negotiation Zhang in Bland, George C. Marshall’s, 207; “new democracy” Niu, From Yan’an, 133; “big chance” Niu, From Yan’an, 160; “people’s consciousness” He in Bland, George C. Marshall’s, 180; prospects good Sheng, Battling, 85.

  89 “two-sided policy” Hunt, Genesis, 138; “Every single rifle” He in Bland, George C. Marshall’s, 183; “strategy of peace” Zhang in Bland, George C. Marshall’s, 207.

  89 Communist spokesmen Niu, From Yan’an, 246; Cadres were told Westad, Cold War, 131; “Ideas of friendship” Westad, Cold War, 128.

  90 “unified and democratic” Heinzig, Soviet Union, 104; “the most hopeful” Marshall cables, 29 December 1945, GCM Papers 24/1, GCMRL; need for cooperation Westad, Cold War, 137; “unforgettable insult” Edmund S. ­Wehrle in Bland, George C. Marshall’s, 70; using barbarian Westad, Brothers in Arms, 59; leave it to the Americans Sheng, Battling, 128.

  90 government’s position Marc S. Gallicchio, The Cold War Begins in Asia, 110; “Generalissimo’s military strength” Yenan Observer Group analysis, 25 December 1945, AW Papers 90/6, Hoover.

  90 Chennault Davies, Dragon, 370; “solution of China’s problems” War Department, Chinese Communist, 243.

  91 Yeaton Yenan Observer Group analysis, 25 December 1945, AW Papers 90/6, Hoover.

  91 Paris . . . Shanghai Donovan, Conflict, 165; SERFDOM NEVER New York Times 7 January 1946.

  91 “emotional crisis” Schnab
el, Joint Chiefs, 99; “isolation fever” Xiaoyuan Liu, Partnership for Disorder, 288; Fifteen thousand a day, still savaged Thomas J. Christensen, Useful Adversaries, 39; “as soon as possible” HST to GCM, Secretary’s Files 112/6, HST Papers, HSTL; reminding Chiang Soong to CKS, 10 November 1945, T. V. Soong Papers 37/25, Hoover.

  91 “invasion of a foreign shore” Military Advisory Group welcome booklet, Virginia Lee Papers, GCMRL; “White Russian girls” Spector, In the Ruins, 52.

  92 “as human beings” Pocket Guide to China, AW Papers 87/3, Hoover; “starch in rain” Life 24 December 1945; “If I were Chinese” JHC to Betty Caughey, 19 December 1945, JHC Papers 2/7, GCMRL; Americans mocked AW to Lucas, 24 August 1947, AW Papers 93/40, Hoover; “chinks” New Yorker 18 May 1946; “slopies” Goodfriend to GCM, 19 December 1945, GCM Papers 122/41, GCMRL; careening American jeeps New Yorker 9 February 1946; Troops looked upon the Chinese Goodfriend to GCM, 19 December 1945, GCM Papers 122/41, GCMRL.

  92 “It beats me” Goodfriend to GCM, 19 December 1945, GCM Papers 122/41, GCMRL; “If anybody had meddled” Mark F. Wilkinson in Bland, George C. Marshall’s, 333.

  92 Mothers accused Truman Summary of letter to HST, 5 December 1945, White House Central Files 757/13, HST Papers, HSTL; “my son’s life” Chern, Dilemma, 163; 2,000 postcards White House mailroom to Smith, 11 January 1946, White House Central Files 757/12, HST Papers, HSTL; AFL and CIO Washington Post 15 December 1945; “Chiang Kai-shek supported us” HST to Delacy, 12 January 1946, Secretary’s Files 151/9, HST Papers, HSTL.

  93 homeward-bound ships New York Times 21 December 1945; Parents wrote GCM to Rumage, 2 February 1946, GCM Papers 123/36, GCMRL; an older couple Rumage to GCM, 5 March 1946, GCM Papers 123/36, GCMRL; “You got out” Andrews to GCM, 1 February 1946, GCM Papers 122/4, GCMRL.

  93 Mao was a disciple Pantsov, Mao, 279; well-thumbed translation Barry Machado of Washington & Lee found and examined Marshall’s copy, a 1929 edition that was once part of his library in Leesburg.

  93 maps of troops FRUS 1946 Vol. 9, 38; waved gently GCMRL newsreels.

  93–94 neutral ground James Shepley Oral History, GCMRL; determine strategy CKS diary, 6 January 1946, Hoover; be friendly He in Bland, George C. Marshall’s, 193; directive on diplomacy Saich, Rise, 1215; “For the sake” Wilson, Zhou, 89; “plain capitalist” Zhang in Bland, George C. Marshall’s, 219.

  94 time, space, and good faith Committee of Three minutes, 10 January 1946, Marshall Mission Records 19, NARA.

  94 He had claimed FRUS 1945 Vol. 7, 801; it was the only way Marshall interviews, 210.

  94–95 draft order aloud FRUS 1946 Vol. 9, 56; “What does ‘these’ ”FRUS 1946 Vol. 9, 45; he interrupted FRUS 1946 Vol. 9, 102; relying on JHC Oral History, GCMRL; “mandatory” JHC to Betty Caughey, 12 February 1946, JHC Papers 2/7, GCMRL; tactics JHC to Betty Caughey, 23 February 1946, JHC Papers 2/7, GCMRL; this month Beal, Marshall, 59.

  95 “Things are going” Marshall cables, 8 January 1946, GCM Papers 24/1, GCMRL.

  95 “Now, Gentlemen” FRUS 1946 Vol. 9, 65; Soong sometimes swapped Interview with Rebecca Soong, 22 December 2014.

  95–96 “As a negotiator” AW to Hutchin, 1 September 1946, Paul Caraway Papers, MHI; “pleasure to watch” JHC to Betty Caughey, 4 January 1946, JHC Papers 2/7, GCMRL; “guiding spirit” JM to Hellman, 7 January 1946, JM Papers 36, HSTL.

  96 “The promise of peace in China” New York Times 9 January 1946; “Are hostilities” FRUS 1946 Vol. 9, 68.

  96 Rehe and Chahar dispute FRUS 1946 Vol. 9, 61–73.

  96–97 “Gentlemen, it appears to me” Committee of Three minutes, 10 January 1946, Marshall Mission Records 19, NARA; ended the session early GCM to HST, 10 January 1946, Naval Aide Files 8/9, HST Papers, HSTL.

  97 10 o’clock that evening GCM to HST, 10 January 1946, Naval Aide Files 8/9, HST Papers, HSTL; the only way Wehrle in Bland, George C. Marshall’s, 73.

  97 on Chiang’s orders CKS diary, 9 January 1946, Hoover; battling to take control Washington Post 3 January 1946; two provinces He in Bland, George C. Marshall’s, 186; “must completely control” Saich, Rise, 1270.

  97 respectfully acknowledged CKS diary, 9 January 1946, Hoover; major gains CKS diary, 5 January 1946, Hoover; did not have to cede GCM to HST, 10 January 1946, Naval Aide Files 8/9, HST Papers, HSTL; a declaration of peace Wehrle in Bland, George C. Marshall’s, 73; provide Chiang the . . . aid Shepley to HST, 26 February 1946, GCM Papers 124/28, GCMRL.

  98 after midnight New York Times 11 January 1946; Committee of Three signing Committee of Three minutes, 10 January 1946, Marshall Mission Records 19, NARA; uniform, suit, tunic GCMRL newsreels.

  98 leaflets New Yorker 4 May 1946 and Marshall cables, 15 January 1946, GCM Papers 24/1, GCMRL.

  5. Unity Out of Chaos

  99 roar of applause Time 21 January 1946; “long stride” Herzstein in Bland, George C. Marshall’s, 128; “important gain” South China Morning Post 11 January 1946; “phase of peaceful development” Bernstein, China, 358; “mission is complete” Marshall cables, 11 January 1946, GCM Papers 24/1, GCMRL.

  99 “historic,” “pause for deliberation” Committee of Three minutes, 10 January 1946, Marshall Mission Records 19, NARA.

  99–100 blueprints GCM to HST, 1 January 1946, Naval Aide Files 8/9, HST Papers, HSTL; trucks and radios Papers Vol. 5, 407; late-night conferences, Beijing hotel History of the Executive Headquarters, Alvan Gillem Papers, MHI.

  100 Marshall worried Committee of Three minutes, 10 January 1946, Marshall Mission Records 19, NARA; more violence, exaggerating FRUS 1946 Vol. 9, 373.

  100 “my full confidence” GCM to Byroade, 14 January 1946, GCM Papers 122/8, GCMRL; “an impartial source” GCM to HST, 1 January 1946, Naval Aide Files 8/9, HST Papers, HSTL; his C-54 FRUS 1946 Vol. 9, 127; one hundred colonels War Department Personnel memo, 16 March 1946, GCM Papers 124/34, GCMRL; promoted to Brigadier General Royall to HST, 15 January 1946, White House Central Files 840, HST Papers, HSTL; rules, kit History of the Executive Headquarters, Alvan Gillem Papers, MHI.

  101 “to go home” Walter Robertson Oral History, GCMRL; “solely” ­Committee of Three minutes, 10 January 1946, Marshall Mission Records 19, NARA; the American served History of the Executive Headquarters, Alvan Gillem Papers, MHI.

  101 “less fighting” FRUS 1946 Vol. 9, 377; “a courageous experiment” History of the Executive Headquarters, Alvan Gillem Papers, MHI.

  101 “good faith” FRUS 1946 Vol. 9, 115; “hardest problem” GCM to HST, 10 January 1946, Naval Aide Files 8/9, HST Papers, HSTL; “fundamental requirement” GCM to HST, 16 January 1946, Marshall Mission Records 15, NARA; Chiang proposed CKS diary, 16 January 1946, Hoover; “This will make us” FRUS 1946 Vol. 9, 364.

  101 “Conducting war” Papers Vol. 6, 74.

  102 Zhou and Chang JHC to Betty Caughey, 19 January 1946, JHC Papers 2/7, GCMRL; True Victory GCM appointment list, 16 January 1946, Marshall Mission Records 7, NARA; “Hard to believe,” transfixed JHC to Betty Caughey, 19 January 1946, JHC Papers 2/7, GCMRL.

  102 come to relish JHC to Betty Caughey, 8 February 1946, JHC Papers 2/7, GCMRL; Marshall told stories JHC to Betty Caughey, 12 October 1946, JHC Papers 2/10, GCMRL, JM to Hellman, 9 January 1946, JM Papers 36, HSTL, and Beal, Marshall, 63; “He can pull” JHC to Betty Caughey, 10 December 1946, JHC Papers 2/11, GCMRL.

  102–103 “the way he relaxes” JHC to Betty Caughey, 19 January 1946, JHC Papers 2/7, GCMRL; Marshall had learned that lesson Marshall, Together, 110; napped JHC to Betty Caughey, 8 February 1946, JHC Papers 2/7, GCMRL, JHC Oral History, GCMRL; sightseeing walks Jeans, Marshall Mission, 241; “cheap fiction” JM to Hellman, 6 January 1946, JM Papers 36, HSTL; stream of movies Carter to Army Motion Picture Service, 21 October 1946, GCM Papers 124, GCMRL; The Atom Strikes JHC to Betty Caughey, 13 February 1946, JHC Papers 2/7, GCMRL; Tarzan GCM appointment list, 2 August 1946, Marshall Mission Records 7, NARA; concentrated as intently George V. Underwood Oral History, GCMRL; ice cream Melby, Mandate, 186.

  103 “I lo
ng for” GCM to Wilson, 11 January 1946, GCM Papers 124/12, GCMRL.

  103 to strategize JHC to Betty Caughey, 16 March 1946, JHC Papers 2/8, GCMRL; cocktail shaker Madame CKS to AW, 6 February 1946, AW Papers 83/27, Hoover; corrected American staff George V. Underwood Oral history, GCMRL; cultivated his aides George V. Underwood Oral history, GCMRL; birthday presents JHC to Madame CKS, 16 November 1946, JHC Papers 1/5, GCMRL; long-standing Chinese practice Henry Kissinger, On China, 51; “color into your cheeks” Madame CKS to GCM, 8 February 1946, GCM Papers 122/20, GCMRL; leafy complex, Marshall cottage Visit to Huanshan.

  103 Over dinner and vodka JM to Hellman, 9 January 1946, JM Papers 36, HSTL; talked amiably Andrei M. Ledovsky in Bland, George C. Marshall’s, 428; Petrov had no idea Ledovsky in Bland, George C. Marshall’s, 427.

  103–104 beer, gin, brandy Melby, Mandate, 146; baiju JM to Hellman, 12 January 1946, JM Papers 36, HSTL; “right-wing KMT” JM to Hellman, 10 February 1946, JM Papers 36, HSTL; Communist officers Melby, Mandate, 66.

  104 “city of rumors” JM to Hellman, 14 January 1946, JM Papers 36, HSTL; “lack of secrecy” GCM to Arnold, 11 February 1942, GCM Papers 60/52, GCMRL; Nationalist stooge JM to Hellman, 26 February 1946, JM Papers 36, HSTL; false names Beal, Marshall, 167; “have to assume” Melby, Mandate, 92; Jeeps JM to Hellman, 9 July 1946, JM Papers 36, HSTL; Marshall’s clothes New York Times 14 January 1946; scores of moles Frederic Wakeman Jr., Spymaster, 340; codebook Wakeman, Spymaster, 273.

  104 military surveillance Papers Vol. 5, 420; “world matters as they affect China” Papers Vol. 5, 420; Nationalist codes, more challenging Papers Vol. 5, 420, and James Shepley Oral History, GCMRL.

  104 encrypted messages Carter to JHC, 14 November 1946, Marshall Mission Records 2, NARA; frequent reminders GCM to HST, 24 January 1946, Marshall Mission Records 15, NARA; “no slip” Papers Vol. 5, 554; infamously indiscreet George V. Underwood Oral History, GCMRL; “as a sieve” Dean Acheson Oral History, GCMRL; William Leahy Carter to JHC, 14 November 1946, Marshall Mission Records 2, NARA, and Marshall Carter Oral History, GCMRL.