2935661
Manchurian
Crisis and the
League.
- Since 1904, Japan had been allowed to have soldiers guarding the South
Manchurian Railway. In September 1931, the Japanese claimed there had been an
explosion on the railway line at Mukden, which they said was a sabotage by the
Chinese. There is no certainty that the explosion took place as transport on the
railway was not interrupted, but this gave the Japanese Army an excuse to invade.
The Japanese army quickly defeated the Chinese at Mukden. The act had been
taken by the army without permission from the government, but its success was
so popular in Japan that the Japanese Army was now in control of Japanese policy.
- By 1933, Japan occupied the whole of Manchuria. Later in 1933, the
League formally condemned Japans actions. The Japanese simply left the
League and later occupied another Chinese province, Jehol.
- The League had failed. One of the permanent members of the council had
committed an act of aggression and got away with it. Why did the countries in the
League not act?
- Sanctions were discussed but not used as Japans main trading partner was the USA, who were not in the
League, so sanctions would have no effect. All countries were suffering from the effects of the economic
depression and did not want to be involved with international problems. Britain in particular, did not want
troubles with the far East to affect its trade in Asia.
- Britain was not prepared to risk its fleet against Japan in the far East, and France had
no intention of sending out their own troops either.
- The nearest country to Japan who could send troops
was the USSR, however they were not in the League.
- No country wanted war against Japan, a stronger Japan was a useful ally against the expansion of the
USSR in the far East. Manchuria was seen as distant from Europe and many regarded the attack as an
intervention, not an invasion- Japan was restoring order, not invading. At the time it was not seen to be
a major blow to the League, but other dissatisfied countries such as Italy and Germany noted the failure
of the League and consequently offered later challenges to the League.
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