Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-01-01
Marshall Held
Ready 10 Accept
Role as Arbiter
Spokesman Indicates
Willingness; General
ToIks With Red
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
CHUNGKING, Jan. Gen
George G. Marshall conferred
for two hours today with Gen.
Chou En-lai, Communist leader,
amid indications that the Amer
lean war leader would accept
the role of peacemaker in
China's turbulent internal af-
fairs.
The presidential ENJOYS staff re-
fused to disclose the nature of the
discussions, but it was believed they
covered a wide range-including
particularly the Communists pro-
posal for an unconditional truce in
the fighting in North China and the
central governments counterpro-
posal.
Although the Communists previ-
ouSly had presented their side in
broad outline to Gen. Marshall, it
was the first long talk between the
two.
Reds Seen Favoring Role.
The meeting was considered as
signifying that the Communists are
not opposed to the idea of Gen.
Marshall acting as mediator between
them and the central government.
It was indicated earlier by a men,
Der of Gen. MarShalls staff that he
would accept the role of peacemaker.
The spokesman said the general
obviously could not announce his
stand until the Communists had
replied to the governments peace
contemporaries.
Under Generalissimo Chang Kali
sheks new proposals, each side
would appoint a representative to
confer with Gen. Marshall on Pro-
cedures for cessation of hostilities
and restoration of communications
in North China. The government
also called for impartial observers
to see that such truce is kept.
Gen. Chou, who is head of phe
Communist delegation to the forth
coming peace and unity conference,
and other Communists leaders in
Chungking were unavailable for
comment on the Governments
counteroffer 1t was assumed that
the proposal had been sent to
Yenan, in Manchuria, for consid-
Grafton by the party's central exec
utive committee. The Communists
offered their own program Deem
Der 81.
Hopes for Long Accord.
Gen. Marshall, at state banquet
last night, extended good wishes CT
President Truman to the Chinese
people and expressed hope that the
two nations will 60 hand in hand
in a peaceful, prosperous world
I'VE are on the eve of one of the
most important years in human his
tory" he declared in a New Year
toast at the banquet, which also
honored the generals 65th birthday.
I'm this year, we will decide
whether the people of this world
will live in peace and harmony, or
take another course that might lead
to utter destruction"
He added that the essential in
gredient" was the ability of all peo-
Piles of the earth to approach post
war problems in a spirit of under
standing.
1--we always felt that such an un-
Outstanding is desirable" Gen. Mar
shall said, but now it's essential.
There is no middle ground. With
this understanding, there could be
peace without disaster"
Generalissimo Chang lauded the
American general in glowing terms,
toasted the health of President Tru-
man and expressed hopes for last
ing cooperation among the United
Nations.
Tells of Following Career.
Hailing Gen. Marshall as "a man
of prompt decision, lofty purpose
and keen insight" Chang declared:
Il have personally followed his Ca
reer with an admiration to which I
can best give expression by referring
to the tribute paid him by President
Truman when he stated that Gen.
Marshall exercised greater influence
than any one else in the strategy
which defeated Germany and ia
pan"
1t Is significant, the generalissimo
said, that Gen. Marshall is here
with us in heralding the dawn of
1916 as the beginning of an epoch
in which we should actively strive to
establish permanent world peace
with the same zeal that we mani
tested In winning the war"
Meanwhile, in North China, a
semioff1cial dispatch said central
government troops entered Fusin, in
Eastern Jehol Province-an area en-
riched with deposits Of petroleum
silver and gold.
Communist sources reported ear
lier that 10000 Central Government
troops were driving toward Jehol
and that an additional 75,0O0 were
pushing along the railroad from
Peiping toward that North China
province.
Hing Occupied by Reds.
Chinese press dispatches said
Communist troops had occupied
Hing, about % miles northeast of
the Yangtze River port of Ching
kiang-opposite Marking, prewar
capital of China.
This would place the Communists
less than Is miles from Yangchow,
otherwise known as Kiangtu.
Chungking confirmed that Gen.
Ho Ying-chin, field commander of
Chinese armies, was leaving soon for
London to participate in the Big
Five military conference.
Chinese press circles reported that
Chang Ching-kum, son of the gen.
eralissimo, who went to Moscow as a
special envoy, carried personal
letter from his father to Premier
Stain.