#5-365
To Walter S. Robertson
February 21, 1946 Chungking, China
My dear Robertson:
I hope in a week or ten days to pay you and Executive Headquarters a visit—with the other members of the Committee of Three—as Byroade has no doubt told you. We will only be in Peking briefly, long enough, however, to talk things over. But I wish now, most confidentially, to give you some idea of the tentative plans for the immediate future.
I am planning on making a quick trip home shortly after my return to Chungking from the inspection trip. The timing will depend on the starting date for the trip and its length, somewhat on the state of affairs in Manchuria, and on the progress the five special planners I have assembled here have made regarding the detailed schedules and instructions for carrying out the demobilization, the integration of armies and their general reorganization. Once approved, Executive Headquarters is to have this job of remaking the armies of China, and will be so employed at least until the end of the calendar year.
I have brought Lieut. General Gillem out to take the lead in this work.1 He first must familiarize himself with people and conditions and at the same time must supervise the staff work here in developing the plans. Then he will be ready to move on to Executive Headquarters and relieve you. You, I think, should be here during my absence, which will be about four or five weeks. (I am going to make the reports and assist in setting the stage for the Chinese loan, as well as reach general understandings regarding Lend-Lease, FLC [Foreign Liquidation Commission] and similar matters.) Wedemeyer will remain on his job until I return and then he will go home for an operation. I, confidentially, do not expect to stay here beyond August, and that is a great deal longer than I anticipated. We can talk over in Peking your plans or desires. Butterworth has not arrived and is not due, I believe, for some time.2 And he must get some familiarity with the place before taking over, I suppose.
You are, no doubt, in a seventh heaven with your family about you in the interesting surroundings of Peking.3 I think I will bring Mrs. Marshall back with me, though I will decide that later on.
Meanwhile, with my congratulations on the fine work you are doing, and thanks for your letter,
Faithfully yours,
Document Copy Text Source: George C. Marshall Papers, China Mission, General Materials, George C. Marshall Research Library, Lexington, Virginia.
Document Format: Typed letter.
1. See Marshall to Eisenhower, January 13, 1946, Papers of George Catlett Marshall, #5-322 [5: 418–19].
2. See note 1, Marshall to Acheson, January 8, 1946, Papers of George Catlett Marshall, #5-318 [5: 414].
3. See note 2, ibid.
Recommended Citation: ThePapers of George Catlett Marshall, ed.Larry I. Bland and Sharon Ritenour Stevens (Lexington, Va.: The George C. Marshall Foundation, 1981– ). Electronic version based on The Papers of George Catlett Marshall, vol. 5, “The Finest Soldier,” January 1, 1945–January 7, 1947 (Baltimore and London: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2003), pp. 464–465.