MANCHURIA CRISIS 1931-1933

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MANCHURIA CRISIS 1931-1933

• By Jazmine D. McBride

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• Manchuria is located in eastern Asia.
• Specifically in northeastern China. It includes
  the provinces of Heilongjiang, Jilin (Kirin or
  Chi-lin) and Liaoning. These places have always
  attracted much attention from outside powers
  because of their fertile lands and resources.

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WHAT IS THE MANCHURIAN CRISIS?

• The Manchurian Crisis occurred between September
  1931 and early 1933. The crisis was caused by
  Japanese forces invading Chinas land (known here
  as Manchuria).
• Despite Chinas large size, they were unable to
  successfully fight off the invasion because they
  were too weak and fragmented.

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SEPTEMBER 1931 (The Beginning)

• Mukden Incident- an explosion damaged a section
  of the South Manchurian Railroad track.
• Japanese military advanced into South Manchuria.
• October US sat with the League of Nations
  Council to discuss the evolvement of the
  Manchurian Crisis.
• Japanese failed to respond to warnings from the
  international organization. Possibility of
  imposing economic sanctions was discussed.

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• December The League called for the creation of a
  group of people to go and assess the state of the
  crisis. Japan supported this idea because they
  knew that it would delay The Leagues decision,
  and allot more time for the Japanese forces to
  acquire more territory.
• The group that was sent to investigate the crisis
  was known as the Lytton Commission. (named for
  British diplomat Lord Lytton)
• The Lytton Commission was not appointed until
  January 1932, did not arrive in Manchuria until
  April.

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• However, the US struggled with dividing opinion
  on the Crisis.
• The Hoover administration made it clear that
  economic sanctions were a likely road to was and
  opposed them.
• This statement put the government as odds with
  newspaper editorialists.

• In December 1931, the US declared that they
  wouldnt be taking any part in the Far East
  ordeal.
• January 1932, effective Chinese resistance ended.
  
• Secretary Stimson sent a note to China and Japan
  stating that the US would not recognize any
  agreements made regarding Manchuria that impaired
  US rights under existing treaties.
• This policy of non- recognition became known as
  the Stimson Doctrine.

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• Secretary Stimson sent a note to China and Japan
  stating that the US would not recognize any
  agreements made regarding Manchuria that impaired
  US rights under existing treaties.
• This policy of non-recognition became known as
  the Stimson Doctrine.

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JANUARY 29, 1932

• Major Japanese offensive was launched against the
  city of Shanghai.
• Thousands of men, women, and children were killed
  in the bombing and subsequent fires.
• Widespread international revulsion over the
  Japanese action.
• However, few were willing to press matters to the
  brink of war.
• Stimson held strong feelings about this
  situation, but had to recognize the presidents
  warning of pressing the Japanese too hard because
  doing so would bring the US into the crisis.

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• Stimson was determined to make his point.
• He sent an open letter to William E. Borah,
  Architect of the Washington Conference.
• The letter provides a lengthy examination of
  recent treaties pertaining to the Far East and
  the development of the Open Door Policy.
• This letter was not intended for Stimsons
  benefit but for a broader audience of Japan,
  Britain, China, the League of Nations and the
  American public.

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• Japanese troops in Chinas territory of
  Manchuria.

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• March Stimsons shirtsleeves diplomacy was
  rewarded when the assembly of the League of
  Nations adopted a resolution containing language
  similar to that of the Stimson Doctrine.
• As a result, Tokyo backed down. A withdrawal of
  troops from Shanghai that was complete in late
  May followed.
• The crisis passed.

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• However, Japanese desire to dominate neighboring
  areas in the Far East remained.
• September 15, 1932 Tokyo extended official
  recognition to Manchukuo.
• Manchukuo was supposedly an independent state
  that had been created in Manchuria. It was
  actually no more than a puppet-state that
  remained closed to the rest of the world. Only
  Germany and Italy joined Japan in granting
  diplomatic recognition.

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• In October 1932, the Lytton Commission issued its
  report labeling Japan as the aggressor, but
  acknowledging that the Japanese had historic
  special interests in Manchuria.
• In early 1933, the League of Nations backed the
  commission's findings and the United States
  indicated that it was in substantial accord
  with the League.
• The Japanese were stung by this rebuke and on
  March 27 they informed the League of their
  intention to withdraw from the international
  body.
• Relations between Japan and China remained
  strained in the following years, then finally
  erupted into full-scale war in 1937.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

• http//www.gcsehistory.org.uk/modernworld/appeasem
  ent/manchuriancrisis.htm
• http//www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1499.html