• At the time of this Cabinet meeting the Korean War had been going on for about 1 year. As well as British and US forces, there were substantial Commonwealth forces from Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
  
• The war took a very serious turn when US General MacArthur disobeyed instructions not to take UN forces into North Korea. His actions brought Communist China into the war with around 200,000 troops.
  
• MacArthur was sacked by Truman but all governments remained concerned by the prospect of the war escalating beyond Korea.