The Korean War: The Untold Truth

Chapter 53
At 7:36 a.m., the meeting began in an atmosphere of frank humor.Truman also had to back off from the sweltering heat of Wake Island, advising, "It's not the weather to wear a coat," before removing his suit jacket, and the others followed suit.A server places a bowl of freshly cut pineapples in front of each attendee.MacArthur took out one of his famous corncob pipes and asked, "You don't mind if I smoke, Mr. President?" are more contaminated by the smoke."

Colonel Bunker, MacArthur's assistant, put the paper and pencil on the table and began to jot down notes.But Charles Ross ("anxiously," in Whitney's words) objected, saying that neither side should take notes.This is Whitney's account, and it is questionable.General Bradley told a Senate hearing the following May that he and two other aides took the notes publicly.MacArthur said at the same hearing that he asked Ross: "Who is in charge of public relations? Will there be a stenographer taking notes? But I would like to do it myself. But he told me no records are allowed and there is no stenographer present."

Out of sight of most of the attendees, there was another person recording.Vernis Anderson, the long-term private secretary to Ambassador Jessup, accompanied him to do some temporary shorthand work.Miss Anderson is a mild-mannered government career woman with big blue eyes and olive skin. She travels with Jessup in capitals all over the world.She is very skilled.Can scramble diplomatic correspondence and communiqués on a portable typewriter no matter when and where, and can take dictation on a bumpy flight that makes it difficult to write and write.A dignitary might impress Vernes Anderson, but not awe her.She has attended meetings of foreign ministers, NATO meetings, summits in Europe and Asia.Jessup was always ready to go, too, thanks to her firefighter-style errand at the State Department.She had no specific mission to Wake Island, but experience told her not to stray far from the scene, so she naturally followed the crowd into the cinder block cottage and took a seat in a reception room next to the main conference room.The louvered door between the two rooms was left ajar as a strong wind blew into Miss Anderson's cabin from the great conference room.She heard what people were saying and began to take shorthand "automatically", knowing that she was likely to be assigned to assist Jessup in preparing a formal report. "I didn't even have an official record book at hand. Fortunately, there was a stack of lined paper, so I recorded it right away."

Later memoirs give different accounts of whether Miss Anderson's presence was known.Charles Murphy and Dean Rusk expressed surprise."None of us knew she was recording," Murphy said. Whitney said in her memoirs that the stenographer "hidden behind the door" was able to "note what she could hear only through the crack of the door and what she could hear through the keyhole." things seen".Anderson's record, he says, is "sadly incomplete".Ambassador Mucho thinks otherwise. "Her presence is hardly a secret, because the door is open, and at least everyone seated on one side of the conference table can see her at all times." Mucho probably refers to the side where Truman sits, because MacArthur's entourage said in unison. Said they hadn't seen her.Mucho also recalled Whitney "pacing up and down" the room during the meeting, and felt confident that Whitney would be able to spot Miss Anderson.These details, however, caused serious disputes the following spring (see Chapter 12).

Most of the speeches recorded by Miss Anderson are from MacArthur, for he spoke the most, and his performance dazzled even those who came to Wake Island prepared to hate him.MacArthur spoke plausibly and confidently.Frank Pace was convinced within minutes that he was "truly a military genius."In MacArthur's view, all that remained of the entire Korean War were the finishing touches that had to be finally resolved.He put it bluntly: "Across North and South Korea, formal resistance will end by Thanksgiving."

Small resistance remained in the south, with MacArthur estimating only about 1.5 people. "We don't have to destroy them, the winter will destroy them."

In North Korea, the enemy's "fight to the death" continued, with only about 10 men, "trained as a reserve force, poorly trained, commanded, and equipped, but they were tenacious. I really Unwilling to eliminate them, they are just fighting for face. Orientals would rather die than lose face."

MacArthur stated that he "hoped to be able to withdraw the Eighth Army to Japan by Christmas," leaving only the Tenth Army in North Korea.He will try to hold elections early next year and end the military occupation of North Korea as soon as circumstances permit. "Military occupation will gain nothing, and all occupations will fail." MacArthur will leave the North Koreans with 8 army divisions equipped with American equipment, plus a "short and lean" navy and air force.This force "would not only secure North Korea but... would also constitute a great deterrent to the southward advance of the Chinese Communists. This deterrence cannot be laughed off," the general said.

MacArthur emphasized: "As soon as the guns stop, the military will leave and civilians will replace them." North Korea "has been paralyzed for a long time" and a small amount of reconstruction funds "can be used for a long time."In his view, "using $3 billion over 5 to 10 years will be enough to cover the losses".In any case, MacArthur pointed out, "a house built of mud and bamboo, if destroyed, could be rebuilt within two weeks".

Then Truman asked the next topic: "What is the possibility of Chinese or Soviet interference?" MacArthur replied confidently:

Very unlikely.If they intervene in the first month or two, it will be decisive.We are no longer worried about their interference, we are no longer humble and submissive.The Chinese have 30 troops in "Manchuria", of which no more than 10 to 12.5 are deployed along the Yalu River, and only 5 to 6 can cross the Yalu River.They don't have an air force.Now our air force has bases in North Korea. If the Chinese go south to Pyongyang, they will definitely suffer extremely heavy casualties.

MacArthur was mainly worried that the Russians would use their air force to support China's ground forces, but the cooperation between them "will be very poor. I believe that the chances of the Russian Air Force bombing the Chinese will not be less than the chances of bombing us."

MacArthur promised Bradley to transfer a division to the European theater by January.When discussing John Foster Dulles' ongoing peace treaty with Japan, Assistant Secretary of State Dean Rusk marveled: "Your military operations in Korea are moving faster than diplomats can sign a treaty. "

These kind words made MacArthur very happy, and he repeated: "I hope to withdraw the Eighth Army by Christmas."

Later, much of the meeting was devoted to discussing the conclusion of a peace treaty with Japan, the prospect of an Asian defense alliance, and the expanding war in Indochina.

The meeting ended with a difficult political discussion on the issue of President Rhee.MacArthur strongly opposed a UN General Assembly resolution that put South Koreans and North Koreans on the same level in the postwar settlement of the Korean problem.The resolution called for re-elections in North and South Korea, disregarding the elections held by South Koreans in 1948."It would be terrible to take out a government that has stood firm and has withstood so much and treat it like North Korea," MacArthur said.

Truman agreed: "It can't be done, and it doesn't have to be.  … We have to be open and honest about our support for the Syngman Rhee government, and to hell with the propaganda."

The formal meeting comes to an end."No one who hasn't been here will believe we've discussed so many issues here," said Truman, proposing a break for lunch—it was a little after 9:9 a.m.—while the The entourage may write communiqués for the press.But MacArthur did not want to linger. "If I can," he said, "I'd like to be back as soon as possible, and if it's convenient, I'd like to leave before lunch." Truman made no objection.Thus, the meeting ended at 12:96 am - [-] minutes after the meeting began.

Truman's press secretary Charles Ross, Ambassador Jessup, and Charles Murphy retreated to a nearby office to prepare the communiqué (MacArthur's entourage was fidgeting in the main conference room, much to their chagrin at the delay, but can’t say it).

Truman invited MacArthur back to the small trailer for a chat, which eased the tension.They finally talked about politics again.According to MacArthur later telling Whitney, the general asked the president if he intended to run for re-election in 1952, and Truman asked MacArthur if he had any political ambitions.MacArthur replied: "Not at all. If there was a general to run against you, his name would be Eisenhower, not MacArthur."

Truman smiled slightly.He had resisted partisan bipartisan campaigns for Ike in 1948, and he knew Eisenhower's ambitions well.He admired Eisenhower as a soldier, "but he didn't know anything about politics," Truman said, "well, if Eisenhower really became president, his administration would make the Grant administration look like a perfect example ’” At this point, according to Whitney, MacArthur “quickly changed the subject.”

(End of this chapter)