Evening star., 1947-01-29
Decision Follows
Breakdown in
Mediation
By Gornett D. Horner

The United States today broke
off it's connection with organized
effort to end Chinese civil strife:
thereby clearing the way for
early withdrawal of most of
Americas fogces and Marines
from China,
Decision to terminate participa-
ton in machinery set up last year
to help enforce truce and unity
agreement between Generalissimo
Chang Kai-shek's Nationalist gov
eminent and Chinese Communist
forces was announced by the State
Department at $50 am.
Michael j. McDermott, State De-
partment press officer, said instruc-
tions regarding withdrawal of the
American Marine forces in China
will be given later in conformity
with approved plans for termina-
ton of the American participation
in the executive headquarters.
The Executive Headquarters was
a joint United States, Chinese Ma
tionalist Government and Commu-
mist establishment set up at Peiping
a year ago to supervise carrying out
the truce and unity agreement
which has been virtually nullified by
renewed fighting in recent months.
Officials said American partici-
patton in the executive headquarters
involved directly about 1900 Amer
ican Army and civilian personnel.
The bulk of American Marines in
China, said to number less than
10000 now, have been kept there
for supply and other support of
the executive headquarters ar
rangement.
Small Unit Not Affected.
The announcement today, officials
said, clears the way for withdrawal
of all these forces.
The only Marine force not af-
fected, it was said, is small con-
tingent stationed at a United States
naval training center set up at
Tsingtao, China, soon after the sur
render of Japan. A military ad-
visory group of about $50 officers
and men, organized to serve Chang
on military problems, also will be
unaffected, officials said.
Todayis decision also ended Amer
ica's connection with the Commit
tee of Three; which also had been
set up last year to help settle the
Chinese civil strife.
Secretary of State Marshall, who
had directed this Governments ef-
forts to promote Chinese unity for
more than a year before he was
named to the top cabinet post re-
Gently, was chairman of the Com
mittee of Three, which included rep
resentatives of Chang Kai-shek and
the Chinese Communists.
Formal breakdown Of this peace
machinery had been foreshadowed
by Gen. Marshall's departure from
China in the face of renewed strife
between the contending Chinese
factions. When he left China, Gen.
Marshall blamed the breakdown on
extremist" elements in both fac
tions and said China's salvation lay
in 1.-The assumption of leadership
by the liberals in the government
and in the minority parties.
Hopeful But Not Optimistic.
State Department officials said
cessation of the organized peace
effort did not mean an end to
American interest in promoting
unity in China.
I'VE are hopeful but not particu-
larly optimistic regarding the sit
uation," one official said.
Ambassador Stuart remains in
China, ready to take advantage of
any opportunity to help restore
order.
The State Departments formal
announcement said:
THE United States Government
has decided to terminate its con-
nection with the Committee of Three
which was established in Chungking
for the purpose of terminating hos
tilities in China and of which Gen
Marshall was chairman.
1.-The United States Government
also has decided to terminate its
connection with executive head
quarters which was established in
Peiping by the Committee of Three
for the purpose of supervising, in
the field, the execution of the agree
ment for the cessation of hostilities
and the demobilization and reor-
ganization of the armed forces in
China.
'sThe American personnel involved
in executive headquarters will be
withdrawn as soon as possible"