Early Stages of the PTO

Historical Japan

• Feudal society– Shinto– Divine emperor– Shogunate– Samurai– Rejection of the west– Meiji Restoration– Historical tension between Japan and Korea,

Japan and China, Japan and Russia

Japan, post WWI

• WWI - Japan was on the allied side– Not much direct involvement– Mostly provided naval support

• Japan emerged from WWI stronger than before (relative to other major powers)

• Japan was not forced to scale back military– Disarmament Treaty– Need ability to counter Western attacks

As seen by others…

• 1924 - “I do not believe there is the slightest chance of [war with Japan] in our lifetime. The Japanese are our allies… Japan is at the other end of the world. She cannot menace our vital security in any way… War with Japan is not a possibility which any reasonable government need take into account.”

• Guess who said that?

Depression

• Allowed conservative elements in Japan to grow stronger

• Belief that economic woes were caused by Western powers

• Resented dependence on USA– For oil– For scrap metal– Why these two?

Late to the Imperial game…

• Japan relied on others for resources– Oil, rubber, iron, tin– Found in other parts of SE Asia

• Impetus for expansion?– To gain resources– To gain living space (Lebensraum?)

Japan v. China

• 1931 - Japanese invasion of Manchuria– Pretense? Manchurian attack on Japan.– The “attackers” were actually Japanese.

• League of Nations– Investigates, condemns, does nothing– Japan simply withdraws from the League

• US claims it will not recognize territory gained by war– Hoover-Stimson Doctrine– No force to back up the words

Hoover-Stimson Doctrine

• ...the American Government deems it to be its duty to notify both the Imperial Japanese Government and the Government of the Chinese Republic that it cannot admit the legality of any situation de facto nor does it intend to recognize any treaty or agreement entered into between those Governments, or agents thereof, which may impair the treaty rights of the United States or its citizens in China, including those that relate to the sovereignty, the independence, or the territorial and administrative integrity of the Republic of China, or to the international policy relative to China, commonly known as the open door policy...

Japanese Navy

• Why the navy?– Historical comparisons?

• No longer adhere to Washington Naval Treaty (naval size limits)

Alliance

• 1936 - Anti-Comintern Pact– Response to Soviet alliance with Mongolia– Brought Japan into the Axis

• Discussion: How are Germany’s and Japan’s interests alike at this point?

USS Panay

• Sunk by Japanese aircraft

• Japan apologizes, US does nothing

Hirohito

Rape of Nanking

• Japanese invasion of China

• City decimated by bombers

• Dec 1937-Feb 1938– 20,000 Chinese women raped– 300,000 people killed