The early political advantages offered to Truman by the Korean War (which were crucial to him) vanished, due to China entering the conflict in November 1950. Both General MacArthur and President Truman had thought that there was 'little or no chance of large-scale Chinese intervention in the conflict', and that total success over North Korea was near. Both were completely surprised when such a large amount of Chinese soldiers suddenly appeared fighting in North Korea, throwing America's soldiers to retreat. A war that had offered us an epic triumph now threatened to become an awful defeat.
MacArthur responded to it by calling for the United States to redouble its efforts in Korea, trying even harder although it meant risking a wider war. On 9 November, just when the Chinese threat had become serious, MacArthur sent a message to the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Washington, begging "with all the earnestness that I possess that there be no weakening at this crucial moment and that we press on to complete victory which I believe can be achieved if our determination and indomitable will do not desert us."
Such measures might have given us a closer step as the United States to regain the upper hand in Korea. But it also would have certainly started World War III.
By December 1950, when American forces were forced to retreat from their recently captured positions in North Korea, it became evident to officials in the Truman administration that liberating all of Korea under anti-communist leadership had become practically impossible. The U.S. needed to create a new strategy to fight a 'limited war for limited aims.'
MacArthur responded to it by calling for the United States to redouble its efforts in Korea, trying even harder although it meant risking a wider war. On 9 November, just when the Chinese threat had become serious, MacArthur sent a message to the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Washington, begging "with all the earnestness that I possess that there be no weakening at this crucial moment and that we press on to complete victory which I believe can be achieved if our determination and indomitable will do not desert us."
Such measures might have given us a closer step as the United States to regain the upper hand in Korea. But it also would have certainly started World War III.
By December 1950, when American forces were forced to retreat from their recently captured positions in North Korea, it became evident to officials in the Truman administration that liberating all of Korea under anti-communist leadership had become practically impossible. The U.S. needed to create a new strategy to fight a 'limited war for limited aims.'
But "limited war" and "limited aims" were not something General Douglas MacArthur approved of. A gigantic dispute between MacArthur and Truman over Korea policy would soon escalate into a ridiculous personal conflict pinning the country's civilian and military leaders against each other in a political fight.