Why did Japan invade Manchuria in 1931?
Where is Manchuria?
- In 1905 Russo-Japanese war, Japan had gained
control of much of Manchuria
- 1910 Jp formally annexed Korea
- Jp based troops in the South of Manchuria to
guard the South Manchurian railway line – it
brought raw materials and goods back to Japan
- Manchuria had fertile farming land (rice) – rich
in coal and iron ore - Japan was mountainous in
comparison and limited ability to farm.
Economic Crisis and Depression:
Why do Japan invade Manchuria?
- Economic
Raw materials - their population had increased to 65 million and
industry rapidly developed – desperately needed to import raw
materials and food to sustain industry and population.
- Impact of Wall Street Crash
Chief export of Japan was silk but because of USA, there was no
longer demand, so price fell in 1931 to1/5 th of its 1922 value.
Industry in general suffered Employment and production fell by 30%
between 1929 and 1931.
Manchuria offered raw materials such as Coal and Iron ore and fertile farmland to
grow food such as rice. Equally would provide export market.
- Militarism
- Warrior tradition – army sign of prestige and status. Honour to die for
Emperor
- Strict code: never be captured, never break down, and never
surrender. "Death before dishonour"
- 1922 Washington Naval Agreement (followed on from Washington
Conference of 1921) – Japan felt treated unfairly only 3 warships to
every 5 Britain and USA
- Japan could not trust allies or own politicians
- Army exerts more control in Janp than politicians – had reputation for
assassinating politicians or anyone connected to them e.g., 1928
Warlord Chang Tso Lin assassinated because army felt gov policy of
friendship towards him wrong.
- 1932 PM even killed by group of soldiers!
- Japan wanted to show how skilled their army was
- They wanted the world to know they were irritated by the Washington
Agreement
, Japan was eager to use their army partly because of the central role they played
in society but equally because they felt maligned by other world powers and
wanted to exercise their importance.
What happened?
The trigger - Mukden Incident 1931
- Night of 18th Sep 1931
- Explosion on south Manchurian Railway line – just outside city of Mukden
- Japan claims this was Chinese sabotage and the Chinese then opened fire
on the Kwantung army (Japan) – had to defend themselves.
- Chinese claim their army was in the barracks asleep!
- Kwantung army take over and rename area Manchukuo and install Pu Yi
(ex-Chinese emperor as a puppet ruler)
- Manchukuo officially Japanese Colony by 1932
- 1932 Japan planes and gunships bombed Shanghai
- Civilian gov in Japan told army to withdraw but this was ignored
- China appealed to the League
What was the League’s reaction?
- China asked L of N for help – could not ignore
- Instruct Japan to withdraw
- Japan ignores and invade further (Japanese gov try to stop but army
continue)
- Sent Lord Lytton and Commission to investigate – by sea!
- Sep1932 (12 months later) published report – condemned Japan and told
them to withdraw let Manchuria return to the Chinese
- March 1933 Assembly vote on report 42 votes to 1 in agreement – Japan
resigned from L of N same month
- April 1933 Japan invade Jehol province
- Sep Japan invade Shanghai
- 1937 full scale invasion of Chinese mainland
- 1938 most Chinese cities under Japan control
- Br and Fr particularly reluctant to respond because they were suffering
with the Great Depression – Br had 3mil unemployed and national debt of
£100 mil
- Catastrophic failure from the nation
Where is Manchuria?
- In 1905 Russo-Japanese war, Japan had gained
control of much of Manchuria
- 1910 Jp formally annexed Korea
- Jp based troops in the South of Manchuria to
guard the South Manchurian railway line – it
brought raw materials and goods back to Japan
- Manchuria had fertile farming land (rice) – rich
in coal and iron ore - Japan was mountainous in
comparison and limited ability to farm.
Economic Crisis and Depression:
Why do Japan invade Manchuria?
- Economic
Raw materials - their population had increased to 65 million and
industry rapidly developed – desperately needed to import raw
materials and food to sustain industry and population.
- Impact of Wall Street Crash
Chief export of Japan was silk but because of USA, there was no
longer demand, so price fell in 1931 to1/5 th of its 1922 value.
Industry in general suffered Employment and production fell by 30%
between 1929 and 1931.
Manchuria offered raw materials such as Coal and Iron ore and fertile farmland to
grow food such as rice. Equally would provide export market.
- Militarism
- Warrior tradition – army sign of prestige and status. Honour to die for
Emperor
- Strict code: never be captured, never break down, and never
surrender. "Death before dishonour"
- 1922 Washington Naval Agreement (followed on from Washington
Conference of 1921) – Japan felt treated unfairly only 3 warships to
every 5 Britain and USA
- Japan could not trust allies or own politicians
- Army exerts more control in Janp than politicians – had reputation for
assassinating politicians or anyone connected to them e.g., 1928
Warlord Chang Tso Lin assassinated because army felt gov policy of
friendship towards him wrong.
- 1932 PM even killed by group of soldiers!
- Japan wanted to show how skilled their army was
- They wanted the world to know they were irritated by the Washington
Agreement
, Japan was eager to use their army partly because of the central role they played
in society but equally because they felt maligned by other world powers and
wanted to exercise their importance.
What happened?
The trigger - Mukden Incident 1931
- Night of 18th Sep 1931
- Explosion on south Manchurian Railway line – just outside city of Mukden
- Japan claims this was Chinese sabotage and the Chinese then opened fire
on the Kwantung army (Japan) – had to defend themselves.
- Chinese claim their army was in the barracks asleep!
- Kwantung army take over and rename area Manchukuo and install Pu Yi
(ex-Chinese emperor as a puppet ruler)
- Manchukuo officially Japanese Colony by 1932
- 1932 Japan planes and gunships bombed Shanghai
- Civilian gov in Japan told army to withdraw but this was ignored
- China appealed to the League
What was the League’s reaction?
- China asked L of N for help – could not ignore
- Instruct Japan to withdraw
- Japan ignores and invade further (Japanese gov try to stop but army
continue)
- Sent Lord Lytton and Commission to investigate – by sea!
- Sep1932 (12 months later) published report – condemned Japan and told
them to withdraw let Manchuria return to the Chinese
- March 1933 Assembly vote on report 42 votes to 1 in agreement – Japan
resigned from L of N same month
- April 1933 Japan invade Jehol province
- Sep Japan invade Shanghai
- 1937 full scale invasion of Chinese mainland
- 1938 most Chinese cities under Japan control
- Br and Fr particularly reluctant to respond because they were suffering
with the Great Depression – Br had 3mil unemployed and national debt of
£100 mil
- Catastrophic failure from the nation
