The Manchurian Crisis Flashcards
The South Manchurian Railway, 1931
Railway through manchuria built by japan to take goods to and from manchuria and China, controlled by the army, Chinese troops allegedly attacked it (Mukden incident, 1931)
What did Japan do after the Mukden Incident
Japan invaded Manchuria using the incident as excuse, they set up government, the military was in charge
What happened when China appealed to the league
Jap said the invasion was in self-defence b/c China was in a state of anarchy
What did the league do
League officials were sent to evaluate the situation, they presented the report in 1932, a year after the invasion. The Lytton report said Japan should leave Manchuria
How did Japan react to the leagues ruling
In feb 1933 japan said they would invade further into china, after the report got approved the 24 feb 1933 Japan left the League on march 27, the next week japan invaded Jehol
Why was it hard for LoN members to punish Japan with trade sanctions
USA was Japans main trade partner and they weren’t in the league, due to the crisis they didn’t want to limit trade further
Why was it hard for LoN members to punish Japan by banning arms sales
They feared war would escalate and Japan would retaliate
Why was it hard for LoN members to punish Japan with military intervention
Br and Fr wouldn’t risk their army (Royal Navy), only USA and USSR had the resources and they weren’t in the LoN
Why did the league fail to stop japan
The GD means many members don’t want to intervene, Japan was a powerful country, Br doesn’t want to risk their empire’s main defence (Royal Navy), USA not in LoN, China weak and not worth intervention, Jap too far away to matter
Effects on the League caused by the failure
Failed inter coop; disarmament; collect secure, encourage militarism, self-interest of Br and Fr rules
Effects on peace caused by the failure
Set dangerous precedent (Ger, Ita), led to WW2 w/ Hitler and Mussolini
Why was the crisis important
Shows LoN weak, paved way for japan in WW2, encouraged Ger and Ita, showed Br and Fr hypocritical
