While trying to track down two Gallup polls from 1947 and 1948 related to the role of the United Nations, I came across an interesting US Gallup poll from December 1950, soon after the Chinese enter the Korean War in November:
If the Chinese communists continue to send hundreds of thousands of troops into Korea, far outnumbering our forces there, what do you think we should do?
No specific suggestions – *%
Use the A-bomb (atom bomb), except on Russia:
Use a-bomb if necessary – 26
Take fight to Russia, attack – 2
Intensify fight against Red China, declare war (unspecified)–or on China, fight it out, call their bluff, bomb them to hell, stay in Korea, retreat only if necessary, give (General Douglas) MacArthur more power, follow his plan, increase our manpower too – 24
Strategic retreat: retreat to where we can make a better stand, retreat and attack again when stronger – 4
Withdraw completely, get out of Korea, withdraw and try something else, stop – 29
Negotiate: Try peace talk, meet Chinese delegates, make peace with them, call an armistice – 2
Do not use A-bomb (atom bomb), should only be used as a last resort – 1
Abide by U.N. (United Nations) decision, all nations should support U.N., make other U.N. nations do their share, get U.N. to sanction military action in Korea – 2
Miscellaneous – 4
Don’t know/No answer/Hard to say – 10
ORGANIZATION CONDUCTING SURVEY: GALLUP ORGANIZATION
POPULATION: National adult
NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS: 1,500
INTERVIEW METHOD: Personal
QUESTION NOTES: * = less than .5 percent Adds to more than 100% due to multiple responses
SURVEY NOTES: Sample size is approximate
BEGINNING DATE: December 3, 1950
ENDING DATE: December 8, 1950
SOURCE DOCUMENT: GALLUP POLL–A.I.P.O.
DATE OF RELEASE OF SOURCE DOCUMENT: December 1950
Note: I don’t have any more info on how the poll was done and the questions were asked.
