Crises Flashcards
1
Q
Manchuria Background
A
- China was divided
- a civil war had been underway since 1927
2
Q
Why was japan desperate
A
- Japan had an increase in population but had few natural resources
- most of japans economy was based on exporting silk to rich countries (USA) but the demand plummeted when the Wall Street Crash happened
- USA also put tariffs on goods coming from Japan to try and encourage people to buy products from their own country during the depression
- production and employment fell by 30%
- by 1932, silk was worth 1/5th of what it had been in the early 1920s
3
Q
Why did Japan pick Manchuria
A
- rich in good farmland and raw materials like coal and iron
- the Japanese still owned factories and a major railway there
4
Q
Events of Manchuria Crisis
A
- sept 1931, Japanese troops staged an explosion near the town of Mukden on the Japanese owned Manchuria railway
- the Japanese blamed the Chinese and invaded
- Manchuria was renamed Manchukuo
5
Q
Leagues reaction to the Manchurian crisis
A
- reluctant to act
-> members were struggling from the depression
-> Japan was a leading member of the league
-> Manchuria was a long way from Europe where the LoN was based - economic sanctions would be limited as Japan’s main trading partner was USA
- nearest powerful country was Russia who were not a member
- Lytton report
6
Q
Lytton report
A
- the league sent Lord Lytton to Manchuria to investigate the crisis
- it took over a year by which the invasion has been completed
- the league accepted the findings and condemned Japan and asked them to withdraw
- Japanese ignored the report and went on to occupy more Chinese territory
-> in 1933 they left the league and invaded Jehol
-> in 1937 Japan invaded the rest of China
7
Q
Significance of Manchurian Crisis
A
- one of the major league members had ignored moral condemnation and orders
- without an army the league was powerless
- economic sanctions were weak
- Britain and France weren’t willing to support the league against Japan
- encouraged later aggression by Germany and Italy
8
Q
Causes of the Abyssinian Crisis
A
- Italy suffered during the depression
- Italy attempted to colonise Abyssinia but suffered a defeat in 1896 (they wanted revenge)
- events in Corfu and Manchuria gave Mussolini the confidence that the league wouldn’t intervene
- in 1935 France and Britain used Italys help to counterbalance Hitler in the Stresa Front
9
Q
Events of the Abyssinian Crisis
A
- December 1934 Italian and Abyssinian troops clashed at the Wal Wal oasis
- the French foreign minister (Pierre Laval) made a secret deal with Mussolini allowing him to deal with the situation as he liked without French interference
- the emperor of Abyssinian appealed to the league in 1935
10
Q
Leagues reaction to Abyssinian crisis
A
- condemned Italy and imposed economic sanctions
BUT these sanctions didn’t include steel, coal or oil so Mussolini was able to get the supplies he needed for the invasion -> continued to trade with USA etc - France and Britain didn’t want to offend Mussolini and drive him closer to Hitler (didn’t close the Suez Canal)
- banned sale of arms to Abyssinia leaving them helpless
11
Q
Hoare-Laval Pact
A
Dec 1935
- the British foreign secretary worked a plan with the French to offer Mussolini most of Abyssinia
-> however it was withdrawn when it was leaked to the public
12
Q
When did Italy leave the league
A
1937
13
Q
When did Italy leave the league
A
1937
14
Q
Significance of the Abyssinian Crisis
A
- sanctions were proved useless
- everybody realised France and Britain weren’t prepared to use force
- Britain and France used the policy of appeasement rather than the league
- Hitler was encouraged
15
Q
By 1935 how many Italian soldiers had been sent to Abyssinia
A
650,000
