International Responses to Japanese Expansion
Event LON Response
Japanese -Essentially a failure
invasion of -Lytton Commission took 10
Manchuria & months, recommended Japan
northern China withdraw its troops in
(1931) Manchuria
-When Japan’s actions were
finally condemned, Japan’s
delegates walked out and
withdrew from LON
-Neither USA or USSR (who
would be most effective in
stopping Japan) were members
of LON
- No economic sanctions
Sino-Japanese Consumed with European
USA Response
USA’s interests & security were
not directly threatened by the
Manchurian crisis and the
focus of the administration was
on the Great Depression.
-The Stimson doctrine meant
that the US would not
recognize any treaty or
agreement that violated access
to China’s markets
-The Stimson doctrine proved
ineffectual as though it allowed
the USA to uphold
international law, it also
allowed them to avoid
committing to economic
sanctions.
-Lack of action due to the USA
partly wanting to upkeep its
‘isolationist appearance”
-Didn’t take any action in fear
of jeopardising trade with
Japan
USA was primarily concerned
UK & French Response
Limited and ineffective through
their leadership of the LON.
Partly saw China as a large,
chaotic, corrupt nation that
had only nominal control of its
own territory; it was not going
to go to war for China.
-The UK and France did not
want war so therefore did not
choose to get involved. The UK
and France did not see Japan
to be a threat to Europe or the
League of Nations.
Were both too involved in
USSR Response
Was in no position to oppose
any actions by Japan despite
having to share a long border
with country that despised
communism. USSR was in the
midst of forced collectivisation
with a man-made famine
devastating The Ukraine. The
USSR owned & operated the
Chinese Eastern Railway (CER)
in Manchuria, but by 1935 had
sold it to the Japanese, clearly
unable to defend it against
Japanese aggression or
nationalisation.
The Soviets were relieved that
War (1937-1941) affairs in the 1930’s and
without an army or leadership
from Britain & France there
was little they could do. Most
countries feared Communism
and its spread into Asia more
than Japan and Japan had
already left the LON by this
time. China appeal to the LON.
The LON referred China to
nations that had signed the
Nine Power Treaty Conference.
Issued a declaration stating
that hostilities should cease.
Was ignored by Japan. The
LON remained uninvolved,
uninterested and severely
weakened as a result of the
Abyssinian Crisis.
The Three All three Axis powers had
Power/ already left the LON. Irrelevant
Tripartite Pact
(1940)
about economic matters and
continued trade with China.
Roosevelt delivered his
‘Quarantine Speech’ which
suggested that the USA should
help countries attacked by
aggressive nations, but the
USA’s isolationism meant that
is was more talk than action.
The first real action in terms of
sanctions would not occur until
October 1940 when Japan had
invaded Indo-China.
In particular they looked to ban
oil exports to Japan in these
talks.
The US saw that Japan could be
a threat as they had moved
closer to Nazi Germany who
the US did not like so hence, it
could be seen as the end of US
hopes for a diplomatic solution
to the pacific problem
European affairs to mount an
adequate response. Arguably
they were in a much weaker
position to fight expansionism
than at any time since the end
of WW1. Both pursued policies
of appeasement at this time &
were reluctant to take action
without the USA even though
both had concessions/ colonies
in China and Asia. In July 1939
Britain even agreed to
recognise Japan’s conquests in
China.
Wanted to open Burma road
(railway to China from British
and French colonies), and
cause inconvenience to Japan.
Hoped Japan would provoke
the USA to join the war.
Japan was spending their
energy & wealth against China-
it meant they had little to fear
from a Japanese attack on their
long border with Manchukuo.
USSR supplied China’s now
unified government with tanks,
aircraft, ammunition & artillery
with loans of over $173 million
given to the Chinese
government. Soviets provoked
a conflict with Japan at Lake
Khasan in mid-1938 resulting in
an easily win though Soviet
troops far outweighed
Japanese soldiers. Stalin’s
distrust of other Communists
meant that military aid mainly
went to the Nationalist forces,
not the Chinese Communists.
The USSR at this time was
fearful of a double invasion
from both Germany and Japan
as the possibility for Japan to
launch an invasion to the North
was still a possibility.
 Outbreak of LON irrelevant. The start of
War/ Pearl WW2 proved that the League
Harbour was a total failure. Japan was
December 1941 not part of the League and
they were preoccupied with
the war in Europe therefore
irrelevant
LON = League of Nations
The USA were looking for an
excuse (the Congress and
society did not want to enter
the war) to enter the war, and
declared war on Japan on Dec
8th 1941.
Were relieved that the USA
was going to side with Britain
and France against Germany
and Japan
No real response by French
due to Nazi invasion
Vichy French were concerned
over the war.
Britain declared war on Japan +
“jumped on the USA
bandwagon”
The Soviet Union had already
signed a neutrality pact with
the Japanese so would not get
involved. Also, at the time the
USSR were busy dealing with
Germany in the war and could
not spare more troops.
Furthermore, the USSR also
had no wish to intervene with
Japan/USA conflict in the
pacific.