CDKW00182 - Tokyo Exposes Varied Diplomatic Impulses

In mid-October, the head of the Canadian Mission in Tokyo reported on a conversation with General MacArthur, who was leading the UN forces in Korea. Their discussion indicates that the armed forces, like Canadian diplomats, expected Canadian brigades to be more tokenistic than a significant source of manpower in the Korean conflict. However, this report on their conversation also reveals MacArthur’s reservations about the U.S. State Department’s treatment of South Korea’s President Rhee—a different diplomatic-military divide. In doing so, this report demonstrates a split developing between MacArthur’s “all-in” vision of the military commitment and the diplomatic concerns about Rhee’s continued viability as a leader. Although not directly impacting the Canadians, MacArthur’s role as Commander of the UN Forces made this emergent split of significant concern to all member states intent on committing ground forces.