The Manchurian Crisis

The Manchurian CrisisThe Manchurian Crisis

• The Manchurian Crisis was the first The Manchurian Crisis was the first real crisis involving members, for the real crisis involving members, for the L.O.N to tackle. L.O.N to tackle.

• Manchuria was part of China and had Manchuria was part of China and had valuable raw materials. valuable raw materials.

How the crisis beganHow the crisis began

• 1904 war with Russia, Japan took over 1904 war with Russia, Japan took over lease on Russia’slease on Russia’s railway railway through through ManchuriaManchuria

• Japan’s relations with Japan’s relations with China China then then deteriorated deteriorated

Japan’s envy of ManchuriaJapan’s envy of Manchuria

• Manchuria possessed raw materials which Manchuria possessed raw materials which Japan needed, as well as space for the Japan needed, as well as space for the Japanese populationJapanese population

• By 1930, 70% of foreign investment in By 1930, 70% of foreign investment in Manchuria was JapaneseManchuria was Japanese

• Japan began to build rival railways through Japan began to build rival railways through China (Manchuria)China (Manchuria)

Invasion of ManchuriaInvasion of Manchuria

• In September 1931 an explosion In September 1931 an explosion occurred which did minor damage to occurred which did minor damage to the Japanese railway at Mukdenthe Japanese railway at Mukden

• Who was to blame??Who was to blame??• Japanese blamed Chinese. Why?Japanese blamed Chinese. Why?

•Evidence to suggest that the Japanese Evidence to suggest that the Japanese sabotaged the railway themselvessabotaged the railway themselves•Why?Why?•Japanese invaded all important towns in Japanese invaded all important towns in Manchuria within 3 days Manchuria within 3 days

Invasion of ManchuriaInvasion of Manchuria

• By January the army had taken over By January the army had taken over the entire provincethe entire province

• Japan resisted attempts by the Japan resisted attempts by the Chinese government to end the Chinese government to end the invasioninvasion

• In February the Japanese announced In February the Japanese announced that Manchuria had become the that Manchuria had become the independent Republic of Manchukuoindependent Republic of Manchukuo

Response of the LeagueResponse of the League

• The Chinese took their case to the The Chinese took their case to the leagueleague

• Unanimous agreement was reached to Unanimous agreement was reached to send a commission to investigatesend a commission to investigate

• Six months after the dispute, Lord Six months after the dispute, Lord Lytton set sailLytton set sail

• Report accepted Japan had been Report accepted Japan had been provoked, but rejected the idea that provoked, but rejected the idea that Japan had acted in self defenceJapan had acted in self defence

• Report not available until another year Report not available until another year had passedhad passed

Response of the LeagueResponse of the League

• Also dismissed claim that Manchukuo Also dismissed claim that Manchukuo was an independent state, seen as a was an independent state, seen as a puppet regimepuppet regime

• Solution: Japan and China to Solution: Japan and China to negotiate full independence of negotiate full independence of ManchuriaManchuria

• This did not appeal to either sideThis did not appeal to either side

Response of the LeagueResponse of the League

• The great powers would not impose The great powers would not impose trade sanctions against Japan due trade sanctions against Japan due to problems at home and American to problems at home and American reluctance to get involvedreluctance to get involved

• Churchill recommended Churchill recommended appeasementappeasement

                               

Response of the LeagueResponse of the League

• Japanese withdrew from the leagueJapanese withdrew from the league

• Manchukuo not recognised but Japan Manchukuo not recognised but Japan had got away with aggressionhad got away with aggression

• The league failed to protect one of its The league failed to protect one of its members and small members lost members and small members lost faith in the leaguefaith in the league

Why Appeasement?Why Appeasement?

• Britain did not want to risk a war or take Britain did not want to risk a war or take the lead by taken actionthe lead by taken action

• Afraid of antagonising Japan who may be a Afraid of antagonising Japan who may be a threat to their empirethreat to their empire

• Naval base at Singapore was incompleteNaval base at Singapore was incomplete• France would not act alone, also had France would not act alone, also had

territories in far eastterritories in far east• USA afraid of growing Japanese power and USA afraid of growing Japanese power and

committed to isolationcommitted to isolation• USSR alarmed butUSSR alarmed but committed to socialism committed to socialism

in one countryin one country

Impact on the idea of Impact on the idea of “collective security”“collective security”

• The League of Nations was founded on the The League of Nations was founded on the understanding of “collective security” would understanding of “collective security” would bring everlasting peace.bring everlasting peace.

• That countries would be punished for That countries would be punished for breaking the terms set by the league.breaking the terms set by the league.

• This incident, which went unpunished, This incident, which went unpunished, despite sanctions being threatened, despite sanctions being threatened, highlighted the weaknesses within the highlighted the weaknesses within the League’s set up and soon had countries League’s set up and soon had countries losing faith in the League and withdrawing losing faith in the League and withdrawing from it. from it.