International Disputes in 1930's

Manchuria

Abyssinia

Causes

Japan not self sufficient in food, depended on imports to feed rising population

Greatly affected by Depression as they could not sell their luxuries like silk, which their economy depended upon

Manchuria was rich in mineral wealth, agricultural land and forestry

Bordered Korea, which Japan had control over at the time

Events

Japanese soldiers staged a railway incident to launch an invasion into China

Japan needed land to prevent overpopulation

China appealed to League, causing Japanese to promise to withdraw

Soon became clear that government was not in control of military anymore

Japanese military proceeded to occupy the whole province and rename it Manchukuo

League Reaction

Could have called for sanctions but didn't,

European powers wanted to keep eastern trade, as America would take over lost business

Military sanctions too difficult, involved sending naval task force halfway around world with uncertain odds

Britain and France feared attacks on their far eastern colonies

League sent a team, led by Lord Lytton, to investigate, and after 6 weeks he concluded that the invasion was not justified

Japans response was to leave the league

What could the league have done differently?

Acted faster, by the time Lytton arrived the invasion was complete and Japanese were strengthening hold

However, sanctions would have been ineffective as they had no nearby military to call on, and US and Russia could still trade

Cause

Mussolini was looking for ways to boost Italian Economy and his popularity during depression

War with Abyssinia was a low risk way to do this

Abyssinia last remaining independent state of Africa

Located between two other Italian territories: Eritrea and Somaliland

Italy had tried to conquer them before, but were humiliatingly defeated and now wanted revenge

Abyssinian army unlikely to be a match, due to their outdated weapons

Events

Following a 'border incident' at Wal Wal, Mussolini began two pronged Italian attack, involving 250,000 men

Without any formal declaration of war

League reaction

Imposed economic sanctions on Italy immediately

Soon became clear these were ineffective, due to exclusion of oil and gas from ban, and the keeping open of the Suez Canal

Suez kept open out of fear of Italian attacks on British Malta and Gibraltar

To avoid Embarrassment, Britain and France proposed a secret deal

Offered 2/3 of Abyssinia in exchange for stopping the war

Deal was leaked, and protests forced them to abandon the plan

Wars continued and capital was captured

Sanctions lifted shortly after

What could the League have done differently?

Britain and France pursuing two different objectives

Obligated to impose sanctions due to their duty with the LofN, and collective security

Did not want to offend Italy to the point where they become and ally of Germany

This objective was considered more important by Britain and France

In pursuing 2 objectives, they ended up with nothing, as Italy became an ally of Germany, and the league was destroyed by this failiure.