Wake Island
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Island in the middle of the Pacific where
MacArthur and
Truman met on October 15, 1950. Truman
wanted to remind MacArthur of the importance of keeping the Korean conflict
limited, and of the importance of ending the war as soon as possible. MacArthur
thought Truman wanted to appear in pictures with him for political reasons, so
he wore old clothes, didn't put on a tie, and refused to salute his President
lest a photographer take a picture. The Wake Island meeting increased
MacArthur's hatred for Truman. The meeting also suggested to the Chinese that
the Americans were preparing a major operation, and perhaps attempting to reopen
the Chinese Civil War. The meeting may have therefore inadvertently helped lead
to Chinese involvement in the war.