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Bomb explosion
In September 1931 a bomb exploded on the South Manchurian Railway. After the explosion, the Japanese army claimed it needed to restore order and took control of the town of Mukden. -
China's appeal
China approached the League after the explosion in Manchuria, requesting the League's involvement in the dispute. -
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The Manchurian Crisis
The Manchurian crisis followed the Mukden Incident in which Japanese rail tracks were destroyed in an explosion. Japan believed that China had sabotaged the railway and responded with force, ultimately taking control of the Chinese province of Manchuria. The League of Nations investigated the issue, and found Japan to be at fault. Japan ignored the League, and withdrew from the organisation. Manchuria was renamed Manchuko, and was not returned to Chinese rule until the end of WWII. -
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The League's response
The League of Nations responded to China’s request by establishing the Lytton Commission to investigate the crisis in September 1931. The commission reported in September 1932 that the people of Manchuria did not want to become Manchuko, or to be governed by Japan. It advised that Manchuria become an autonomous Chinese state and that Japan should withdraw to the land it had been given in 1905. -
China appeals again
China appealed to the League of Nations for a second time. -
Capture of Shanghai
By January 1932, Japan had taken Shanghai, despite its claims that it had no interest in the area. -
Renaming of Manchuria
In March 1932, Japan renamed Manchuria as Manchuko, which was to be an ‘independent’ state occupied by the Japanese army. -
The Assembly votes
In February 1933, a special assembly of the League voted against Japan, and in favour of the Lytton Commission 42 votes to one. -
Japan exits the League
In March 1933, Japan left the League of Nations and kept
control of Manchuko. In 1937 it launched a full-scale invasion of China. By this time, the Japanese army effectively controlled Japan’s government and had established what was basically a military dictatorship. -
France and Italy negotiate
France held talks with Italy, guaranteeing the Italians a strong presence in Africa. Italy continued to prepare for war with Abyssinia. -
Abyssinia appeals
Abyssinia appeals to Council of League of Nations again, after their appeal in December 1934, after the Wal-Wal incident. -
Great Britain and France meet with Italy
Great Britain, France and Italy meet at Stresa to discuss Germany. France and Britain needed a good relationship with Italy to maintain a balance of power in Europe against Germany. Events in Europe were more important to them than the concerns of people thousands of kilometres away in Abyssinia. -
Italy agrees to League's arbitration
Italy agreed to the League of Nations arbitration of its dispute with Abyssinia. -
Mussolini demands large portions of Abyssinia
Britain’s Minister for League Affairs tries to appease Italy with parts of British Somaliland. Mussolini refuses and reminds Britain that France has guaranteed Italy a strong presence in Africa. He demands large chunks of Abyssinia. -
Blame for the Wal-Wal incident
The League of Nations finds neither side to blame for the incident that occurred at Wal-Wal. -
Chemical attack
Italy attacks Abyssinia using chemical weapons. -
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The Abyssinian Crisis
Italy was a leading League of Nations member that wanted to extend its hold on Italian Somaliland into Abyssinia. In 1930, the Italians had built a fort on the border between the two territories, at Wal-Wal. In 1932 Mussolini drew up plans to invade Abyssinia. Events in December 1934 gave him an excuse to do so. There was an incident at Wal-Wal that resulted in the deaths of 30 Italians and 90 Abyssinians. Mussolini demanded compensation for the Italian deaths. -
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Invasion of Abyssinia
Italian troops invade Abyssinia. The League’s Council denounces
war and prepares economic sanctions. On 10 October 1935 Majority decision in the League of Nations Assembly in favour of limited economic sanctions. -
Mussolini declares himself emperor of Abyssinia
Addis Ababa, capital of Abyssinia, fell to the Italians. Mussolini declares himself emperor of Abyssinia. Abyssinia’s leader, Haile
Selassie, ends the war with Italy. Guatemala withdraws from the League of Nations due to the failure of collective security to protect Abyssinia. -
Sanctions
Once Abyssinia had been taken over, economic sanctions against Italy were abandoned.
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