The China White Paper 1949 (XXV)

Having noted the development in Changchun and the general situation in China, General Marshall felt that the National government had inadvertently given the CCP opportunities to point an accusing finger at them on several occasions. They included (i) the situation in Hankow (杭州) where a large amount of National government forces had surrounded the Communist troops (ii) the Nationalists violated the cease-fire agreement in moving troops into Chihfen in Jehol Province (iii) the National government shut down the Communist newspaper in Peiping and searched the homes of CCP personnel (iv) the Nationalist authority in Canton (廣東) refused to recognize the existence of Communist troops in the province, and (v) the detention of CCP field team personnel at the airfield in Mukden (瀋陽). General Marshall regarded these action by the Nationalist government as stupid that would not benefit the Nationalist but arouse the suspicion of CCP and thus eroded the basis of co-operation. General Marshall held the pinion that originally KMT had an opportunity to settle the matter in Manchuria peacefully, but now the Communist took advantage of the situation and became stronger everyday. Militarily the Nationalist was in a dangerous situation because it had over-stretched its forces.1 (to be continued)

Note:
1.United States, Department of State. The China White Paper-August 1949. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press, 1967, page 151.