Two Koreas January 2013 | Page 20

Editorial - Was the sacking of General MacArthur by President Harry Truman justified

When General Douglas MacArthur was sacked in April 1951, many Republicans and the American public were outraged. Many people questioned the reasons behind the decision, and given the fact that MacArthur was regarded as a hero by many Americans for his contributions in the war, this reaction was unsurprising. However, it is also a belief shared by many that the dismissal was justified, due to the actions of the general during the war.

The main reason for this opinion is due to the fact that MacArthur had made a series of unauthorised moves during the war that jeopardized US foreign policy and plans. By early 1951, the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) and the UN were prepared to hold peace talks, and an end to the war seemed close at hand However, MacArthur decided to act on his own accord, and

without the approval of Washington, sent his own ultimatum to the PRC threatening them to sue for peace or risk a continuation of the war. MacArthur’s actions were extremely irresponsible, as it went against the diplomatic policies of President Truman and made the Chinese more resolved to stay in the conflict. He not only challenged the PRC and his own superiors, but also jeopardized peace attempts. As a result of his actions, the opportunity for peace had been lost and it resulted in a longer conflict and more casualties.

A second incident happened a few months later, when MacArthur leaked to a congressman that he planned to use Chinese Nationalist forces in the war. This action further angered the PRC, and went against the US foreign policy. This incident emphasized again how unreliable MacArthur had become, and this was also one of the main reasons that his dismissal was justified.