Peacemaking (1918-19) and the League of Nations

Question 1

When was the Manchurian Crisis?

Answer 1

1931

Question 2

Who invaded Manchuria?

Answer 2

Japan

Question 3

Why did Japan invade Manchuria?

Answer 3

The Japanese controlled the South Manchurian Railway. In September 1931 they claimed that Chinese soldiers had sabotaged the railway. In retaliation they overran Manchuria and threw out all Chinese forces

Question 4

What did Japan do after invading Manchuria?

Answer 4

In February 1932 they set up a puppet government in Manchuria. Later in 1932 Japanese aeroplanes and gunships bombed Shanghai.

Question 5

What did Japan claim when China appealed to the league over Manchuria?

Answer 5

Japan claimed it was not an aggressor, but simply setting a local difficulty. The Japanese argued that China was in such a state of anarchy that they had to invade in self-defence to keep peace in the area

Question 6

What was the League’s first action against the Manchurian crisis?

Answer 6

The League’s officials sailed around the world to assess the situation in Manchuria for themselves. It was September 1932 (a full year after the invasion) before they presented their report

Question 7

What was the decision reached by the League’s report on the Manchurian Crisis?

Answer 7

Japan had acted unlawfully. Manchuria should be returned to the Chinese

Question 8

What did Japan do in February 1933?

Answer 8

Announced that, instead of withdrawing from Manchuria, they intended to invade more of China. They still argued that it was necessary in self-defence

Question 9

When did the League vote on the Manchurian crisis take place?

Answer 9

24th February 1933

Question 10

Why did Japan leave the League?

Answer 10

The vote on action against Japan gave a 41:1 result. Only Japan voted against action. Japan took this as an insult and resigned from the League on 27th March 1933

Question 11

Why did the League not take action against Japan over the Manchurian Crisis?

Answer 11

• without the USA economic sanctions would be pointless because they were Japan’s main trading partner
• Britain was more interested in keeping up good relationships with Japan than in agreeing to sanctions
• the League discussed banning arm sales to Japan, but the member countries countries were worried that Japan would retaliate and war would escalate
• there was no prospect of Britain and France risking their natives or armies in a war with Japan

Question 12

When was the Abyssinian Crisis?

Answer 12

1935

Question 13

Why did Mussolini want to invade Abyssinia?

Answer 13

• in 1836 Italian troops had tried to invade Abyssinia but had been defeated by a poorly equipped army of tribesmen. Mussolini wanted revenge for this humiliating defeat
• he also had his eye on the fertile lands and mineral wealth of Abyssinia

Question 14

What happened at the Wal-Wal oasis?

Answer 14

In December 1934 there was a dispute between Italian and Ethiopian soldiers

Question 15

Where is the Wal-Wal oasis?

Answer 15

80km inside Abyssinia

Question 16

How did Mussolini react to the Wal-Wal oasis?

Answer 16

Claimed this was Italian territory. He demanded and apology and began preparing the Italian army for an invasion of Abyssinia

Question 17

What made Japan a major power in the 1920s?

Answer 17

• very powerful army and navy
• strong industry, exporting goods to USA and China
• had a growing empire which included the Korean peninsula