ORIGINAL: reznap
Japanese attacked Manchuria at Sept. and took many months to occupy the whole territoty there. By the end of last year Western Powers THOUGHT Japanese would just withdraw soon. Of course they "accept" the excuse provided by Japan then.
However, NEVER EVER would the full occupation of Manchuria by Japan be justified and "accepted" by international community then. You simply cannot invade and occupy a large region of anther country by "economic reasons". In some cases you can attack and temporarily invade a country, but taking a large region from another country is just WAY TOO beyond the question.
at least until October (possibly November), the Western Powers accepted Japan's reason for invading Manchuria ... to protect its economic interests
Please find the quote where I suggested the occupation was justified and accepted by the Western Powers. Allow me to quote myself:
"In 1931, however, they had a reasonably good international reputation and their invasion of Manchuria was seen as an attempt to protect their economic interests ... something that the Western Powers accepted."
I said nothing about 1932, their continued aggression, or subsequent occupation of Manchuria. If the Japanese had withdrawn to their initial positions (they were, after all, already in Manchuria because of their special status), then the Western Powers would have accepted that the invasion was due to a treaty dispute.
With regard to it would never be accepted by Western Powers that one country can invade and occupy another country for economic reasons, well I have three examples that counter this statement:
a) Indo-China - France
b) India - Great Britain
c) Haiti (between 1915-1934) - United States
