SDHF Newsletter No.423 The Road to the Greater East Asian War No. 37 Ch.10-3
THE ROAD TO THE GREATER EAST ASIAN WAR
Nakamura Akira, Dokkyo University Professor Emeritus
(English Translation: Society for the Dissemination of Historical Fact)
Part 37, Chapter 10: The Manchurian Incident-3
April 25, 2025
[name],
Soon after the Liutiaogou Incident, China tendered a protest to the League of Nations. A few days later Japan issued its own declaration concerning the incident, which stated that Japan had no territorial ambitions whatsoever in Manchuria, and that Japan’s only desire was for Japanese citizens to be able to reside and do business in Manchuria, in peace, in accordance with their legitimate rights. The pronouncement about Japan’s having no territorial designs on Manchuria was sincere. Consider the fact that Japan could certainly have used its military might to annex Manchuria, had it wished to. However, it did not. Instead, it opted to establish an independent state.
On September 30, 1931 the Council of the League of Nations issued a resolution that called for negotiation between Japan and China concerning the following:
1. Mutual declaration of non-aggressive policy or action in Manchuria.
2. Mutual engagements to suppress hostile agitation.
3. Reaffirmation by Japan as to the territorial integrity of China, including Manchuria.
4. Japanese subjects in Manchuria to be sufficiently protected by Chinese when carrying on their peaceful and legitimate proceedings.
5. Arrangements to be reached between Japan and China for the prevention of ruinous railway competition and for the carrying into effect of existing railway agreements.
Meanwhile, the independence movement in Manchuria was gaining momentum. In November all three eastern provinces severed ties with the Nanjing government.
On January 3, 1932 the Japanese military achieved a bloodless occupation of Jinzhou, whereupon Zhang’s government vanished into thin air. US Secretary of State Henry Stimson’s reaction was to send a note addressed to both Japan and China, dated January 7. The note laid out the notorious Stimson Doctrine, stating that the US “cannot admit the legality of any situation de facto nor does it intend to recognize any treaty or agreement entered into between those governments, which may impair the treaty rights of the United States or its citizens in China, including those which relate to the sovereignty of China.”
In its response to Stimson, the Japanese government stated that “any replacement which has occurred in the personnel of the administration of Manchuria has been the necessary act of the local population.” It went on to say that during Manchurian Incident, the majority of the Chinese officials in Manchuria and Mongolia took flight or resigned, thud destroying the government’s political functions. “The Japanese Government cannot think that the Chinese people, unlike all others, are destitute of power of self-determination and organizing themselves in order to secure civilized conditions when deserted by existing officials.”
In Manzhouguo (the State of Manchuria) the nation-building process was steadily moving forward. On March 1 its government announced the launching of its administration, and on March 9, Puyi was installed as head of state (Emperor Xuantong).
In February of 1933 the Council of the League of the Nations recognized the sovereignty of China over Manchuria, on the basis of the Lytton Report, and issued a warning to Japan to withdraw its troops into the South Manchuria railway zone. The league recommended that Manchuria be administered by an international organization, and that order there kept by an international police force. When delegates were polled, there were 42 votes in favor of the report, one vote against, and one abstention. By that time Manzhouguo had been established and was flourishing. The Japanese fundamentally disagreed with the report’s recommendation, and it was at this point that they bid farewell to the League of Nation.
URL: https://www.sdh-fact.com/book-article/2301/
PDF: https://www.sdh-fact.com/CL/Road37E.pdf
MOTEKI Hiromichi, Chairman
Society for the Dissemination of Historical Fact