Japan and Imperialism

Emperor Hirohito & Hideki Tojo

Problems with League of Nations

United States never joined Soviet Union joined late in 1934

Was not present for lots of problems US & USSR were to big powers

Could only make recommendations Because of lack of League power –

countries began to hold their own conferences to maintain peace

Good Things with League of Nations

Humanitarian work Worked with return of prisoners of war and

refugees from WWI Relief work in famine struck countries Settled some border disputes:

Britain & Turkey over Iraq Germany and Poland over Silesia

Individual Conferences

Five-Power Treaty Established a ratio of naval strength

US & Britain equality Japan – 3/5 of US & Britain France and Italy – 1.67 of US & Britain

Nine-Power Treaty No further territories from China and maintain Open Door Policy

Kellogg-Briand Pact 1928 – drafted a treaty condemning war 60 Nations signed. War was made illegal

Militarism in Japan

Japan was modernizing – needed sources of raw materials

Needed outlets for it’s population 1920’s Japan was very cooperative – signed 5-

power treaty, 9-power treaty, and Kellogg-Briand Pact. Even gave up territory on Shantung peninsula in China

Emperor Hirohito

Emperor was absolute ruler – from God Cabinet was responsible to him and ruled in his name Constitution of 1889 required that Army & Navy sit on

the Cabinet and that no government could be formed without their cooperation. Made possible because of the old samurai warrior sects and

codes Industrialization gave lots of political power to

industrialist and large landowners MILITARY LEADER AND PEOPLE OF GREAT

WEALTH DETERMINED POLICIES OF GOVERNMENT

Policies that Create Tension

Overcrowding – US policy to allow no more immigrant to US

Worldwide Depression 1929 Military leaders always suggesting force to solve their

problems Wanted a Monroe Doctrine of Asia Desire for strong navy and army – need to be shown

Prime Minister Hamaguchi assassinated – within 2 years government controlled by militarist

Japan attacks Manchuria – China Incident 1931- then take colony and rename Manchukuo

Policies that Create Tension

Marco Polo Bridge Incident – July, 1937 Formal beginning of Sino-Japanese War (Sino means China)

1939 – Japan controls ¼ of China = Very expensive war US policy was that Japan must leave China, Manchukuo,

and bring a peace settlement to their war Japan constantly refused = we misunderstood Japanese

“saving face” US creates stronger and stronger embargos and

reductions in trade to Japan

Hideki Tojo –Prime Minister 1939-1945 Son of army general

Top of his class at Military academy

Army General Staff He was sent to

Manchukuo, Chief of Staff of Army there

1938 – back to Japan to serve as Vice Minister of War

Convinced that Germany would win in Europe – promoted the Tri-Partite Pact (Germany, Italy, Japan)

Hideki Tojo –Prime Minister 1939-1945 Named Prime

Minister in October 1941

Never a dictator like Hitler and Mussolini but gathered and controlled much power

Had the favor of the Emperor