The Korean War (1950-1953)

Question 1

Atlee and the Korean War

Answer 1

July 2nd: Britain, as part of the UN response to aggression, British Royal Navy warships were in action with North Korean gunboats
- Air attacks on North Korea followed
- Britain’s rapid entry into the war is best seen in “Special Relationship” terms rather than UN terms
- Labour government felt obliged to join the Americans in the UN cause
- British government have felt bound to act as loyal allies towards the US, even if the scale of military support might be irrelevant in securing America’s objectives
- August 1950: Britain’s 25th Army Brigade was dispatched from Hong Kong
- 32 Royal Navy ships took part over the next 3 years
- British aircraft carriers formed the core of UN naval forces operating on the west side of the Korean Peninsula

Question 2

Churchill and the Korean War

Answer 2

• Churchill’s government accepted the basic rationale of the participation in the war
• No major changes in policy
• Conflict placed an enormous strain on Britain’s resources, military and economic
• Country’s strategic ‘overstretch’ was dramatically revealed as Britain struggled to deploy even its two brigades
• January 1951: planned expenditure over the 3 years expanded to £4,700 million, rise from 8% to 14% of gross national product (GNP)
• 1952: defence spending stood at 25.9% of total government expenditure
• National Service increased from 18 months to 2 years