The Manchurian Crisis 1931-1933
The Manchurian Crisis 1931-1933
The Manchurian Crisis was the first major test of the League of Nations' ability to deal with aggression by a powerful nation — and the League failed. Japan's invasion of Manchuria exposed the League's fundamental weaknesses and set a dangerous precedent that encouraged further aggression.
Background: Why Did Japan Invade?
Japan was a permanent member of the League of Nations Council and one of the world's major powers. Several factors drove it towards aggression:
- Population pressure — Japan's population was growing rapidly (65 million by 1930) on a small island chain with limited farmland and natural resources.
- Economic crisis — The Great Depression (from 1929) hit Japan hard. American tariffs (particularly the Hawley-Smoot Tariff, 1930) devastated Japan's key export trade, especially silk. Unemployment and poverty increased.
- Military influence — The Japanese military had enormous influence over politics. Army leaders believed expansion was essential for Japan's survival and glory.
- Manchuria's resources — The Chinese province of Manchuria was rich in coal, iron, and fertile land — exactly what Japan needed. Japan already had significant economic interests there, including control of the South Manchurian Railway.
- Chinese weakness — China was divided by civil war between the Nationalists (Chiang Kai-shek) and the Communists (Mao Zedong), making it unable to resist effectively.
The Invasion
- 18 September 1931 — An explosion damaged a section of the South Manchurian Railway near Mukden (the Mukden Incident). Japan blamed Chinese saboteurs, but it was almost certainly staged by the Japanese army as a pretext for invasion.
- The Japanese Kwantung Army quickly overran Manchuria (an area three times the size of Japan) with minimal resistance.
- By February 1932, Japan had conquered the whole province and renamed it Manchukuo, installing the last Chinese emperor, Pu Yi, as a puppet ruler.
- In January 1932, Japan also attacked Shanghai (a major Chinese port), causing civilian casualties and international outrage.
The League's Response
China appealed to the League of Nations for help. The League's response was painfully slow and ineffective:
- The League set up a commission of inquiry led by Lord Lytton (the Lytton Commission). It took over a year to investigate and report.
- The Lytton Report (October 1932) concluded that Japan had acted aggressively and that Manchukuo was not a genuinely independent state. It recommended that Manchuria be returned to China but that Japan's economic interests there should be safeguarded.
- In February 1933, the League Assembly voted 42-1 (Japan voting against) to adopt the Lytton Report and condemn Japan.
- Japan's response was to walk out of the League of Nations in March 1933. It kept Manchuria.
Why Did the League Fail?
| Reason | Explanation |
|---|---|
| No USA | The USA was not a League member and was Japan's biggest trading partner. Without American cooperation, economic sanctions would be ineffective |
| Self-interest | Britain and France had their own empires in Asia and were reluctant to confront Japan. Britain had significant trade interests in the region |
| No military force | The League had no army. No member was willing to send troops to the other side of the world to fight Japan |
| Slow response | The Lytton Commission took over a year — by the time it reported, Japan had completed its conquest |
| Depression | The global economic crisis made countries focus inward; they were unwilling to risk trade or spend money on military action |
Significance
The Manchurian Crisis had profound consequences:
- It proved that the League could not stop a determined aggressor, especially a major power.
- It showed that collective security did not work if member nations were not willing to act.
- It encouraged further aggression — Mussolini noted the League's failure and planned his own conquest of Abyssinia (1935).
- Japan continued to expand: it invaded China proper in 1937, leading to the Second Sino-Japanese War.
Key Exam Points
- Be able to explain both why Japan invaded and why the League failed to stop it.
- The Manchurian Crisis is often compared with the Abyssinian Crisis — know the similarities and differences.
- This is a key turning point in the collapse of collective security.