1. What actual powers did the League have to create world peace? 2. What was the significance of the USA never joining?

Japan Russia China TOKYO PORT ARTHUR PEKING NANKING SHANGHAI SEOUL MUKDEN VLADIVOSTOK Siberia Formosa (to Japan) Korea Mongolia Manchuria Sakhalin

Japan Russia China TOKYO RYOJUN PEKING SEOUL VLADIVOSTOK Siberia Korea Manchuria Sakhalin After victory in the Russo-Japanese War (1905), Japan had laid claim to the Korean peninsula, the port of “Ryojun” and half of island of Sakhalin. After WWI, Japan had occupied the Russian port of Vladivostok and laid claim to more territory. The USA, however, pressurised the Japanese government into withdrawing from the port and insisted that the Japanese navy remain smaller than the US and British navies at a ratio of 5:3 ships (the Washington Naval Agreements). The border between the empires of Russia, Japan and China had long been contended. Russia had colonised eastern Siberia, China: Mongolia and Manchuria; Japan: Korea. While China and Russia dealt with internal revolution from 1911 and 1917 respectively, Japan began to invest heavily in the industrialisation of southern Manchuria. Mongolia

Summer 1931 Japanese employment falls again: 30% of 1929 levels Economists blame US tariffs, in place since disastrous Wall Street Crash. Food shortages result as US import/export trade dries up. Japanese military repeats calls on Emperor to expand operations of South Manchurian Railway Co.

September 1931 ‘MUKDEN INCIDENT’: Japanese Railway attacked in Manchuria Japanese military sees hand of “Kuomintang”, Chinese Nationalist government. Nanking insists its soldiers barracked at time. So. Manchurian Railway hit by bomb outside city of Mukden.

February 1932 Japanese forces attack China Tokyo insists take-over will restore order to lawless region, and new ‘Manchukuo’ state will ‘liberate’ Manchu people from anarchy. Former Chinese Emperor, Pu Yi, made leader of state. Nanking claims ‘sabotage’ and appeals to League of Nations. Japanese military has ignored wishes of civilian government and seized Manchuria in previous months. Japanese forces also attack Chinese port of Shanghai after ‘anti-Japanese’ incidents.

September 1932 LYTTON REPORT: Japan = aggressor Report calls for withdrawal of Japanese forces and return of Kuomintang control. Lord Lytton’s report to League accuses Japan of unlawful aggression in Manchuria. Vote on report to be held in League of Nations Assembly.

December 1937 “greater east-Asia co-prosperity sphere” ends prosperous year Inner Mongolia claims independence: peace with Manchukuo and Tokyo Japanese military finishes year of major expansion in China. Japan has no regrets about leaving League in March Japanese-US trade continues; British Empire wary of antagonising Japan. “Rape of Nanking”: reports of atrocities as Chinese city falls.

Japan Russia China TOKYO RYOJUN PEKING NANKING SHANGHAI VLADIVOSTOK Siberia Formosa Korea Mongolia Manchukuo Sakhalin Japanese Empire (Greater East-Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere), 1937