Attrition

Abstract

A political storm followed MacArthur’s dismissal.¹ The Republicans seized on the issue as part of their strategy to discredit the administration before the presidential elections of 1952. MacArthur was portrayed as a martyr to Truman’s appeasement of Asian communism.² On 11 April Republican leaders announced that the General had been invited to address Congress and called for an enquiry into US policy in the Far East. The tremendous popularity of the victor of Inchon made it difficult for the Democrats to resist.³ The MacArthur hearings, which began on 3 May, vindicated Truman but at the expense of emphasising the collapse of bipartisanship. The committee split along party lines, the Republicans issuing a minority report, critical of US policy in the Far East.⁴ In Western capitals, relief at Truman’s decision was tempered by concern at the crisis which followed. The Canadians were worried by the ‘tumultuous welcome’ received by the General on his return and by the ‘erratic and emotional atmosphere’ in the US.⁵ The British ambassador, Franks, warned London to expect a difficult few weeks.⁶ MacArthur had made no secret of his distrust of Britain and his partisans charged London with complicity in his dismissal.