COMMUNISTS LIFT SIEGES

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23392, 26 December 1945, Page 5

COMMUNISTS LIFT SIEGES

Cities In Inner Mongolia Pacific Gesture

By Telegraph—N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright (Rec. 7.30 p.m.) YENAN, Dec. 23. Chu-Teh, the Red commander-in-chief, said that as a gesture of the Communist desire for peace the Communist forces which besieged the inner Mongolian cities of Paotow, Kweismi and Tatung had been withdrawn, although the military situation there was favourable. lie added that the Communist delegates were fully empowered to deal Immediately and" directly with General G. C. Marshall (U.S. Envoy to China) and as soon as the Coalition Government was established the Communists were ready to dissolve the armed forces, except the 20 divisions agreed upon. The American forces in China, he said, could achieve internal accord by carrying out President Truman’s policy of restricting tasks. If it were true that the State Department had ordered the Americans to cease the transportation of Central troops to North China, then it was not too late to avoid a full scale civil war. While General Marshall has the final decision, the United States has for Hie present stopped assisting the movement cf Nationalist troops from

South China to North China. Meanwhile the Chungking Ceneral Government is shifting troops from Haiphong to Hulutao.

The United States State Department pointed out that General A. C. Wedemeyer (U.S. commander in China) was still empowered to authorise such movement.

The Chungking correspondent of the Associated Press says that Schoul, Enlai, and two other senior Communists, spent an hour with General Marshall, who heard the Communist case for the first time from the party leaders themselves.

Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek has arrived at Chungking from Nanking for the peace parleys.

Arranging Truce General Marshall is carrying President Truman's instructions to endeavour to arrange a truce between the Chinese Government and the Communists. He reached Chungking just before the meeting of the People’s Consultative Assembly.

A correspondent with the Chinese Government forces in Manchuria stated that it is likely to be some time before the troops enter Mukden, although they are near the outskirts of the city. The delay is due to political rather than to military considerations. The Government forces in Manchuria are being supplied by sea and air.

General Marshall is unofficially reported already to have had discussions with Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek.