Lytton Report
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Lytton Report was a report generated by a League of Nations commission to try to resolve the Manchurian Crisis.
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[edit] The Commission
The Lytton Commission was a commission headed by V. A. G. R. Bulwer-Lytton, the second Earl of Lytton of the United Kingdom. This group was charged by the League of Nations in December 1931 on a fact finding mission to ascertain facts on the growing crisis between Japan and China in regard to the region of Manchuria.
[edit] The Report
The following two paragraphs are excerpts taken from:
Walters, F. P. A History of The League of Nations. London, UK: Oxford University Press, 1960. pg 491-492
The Report contained a full account of the situation in Manchuria before September 1931, describing frankly the unsatisfactory features of the Chinese Administration and giving their just weight to the various claims and complaints of Japan. It then proceeded with a narrative of the events in Manchuria on and subsequent to September 18, 1931, based on the evidence of many of the chief actors and on that of eyewitnesses. It described the salient points of the Shanghai battle. It devoted particular attention to the origins and development of the State of 'Manchukuo', which had already been proclaimed when the Commission reached Manchuria. It also covered with equal thoroughness the question of the economic interests of Japan both in Manchuria and China as a whole, and the naute and effects of the boycott. Russian interests, it added, were also important and must be taken into account. Finally, the Commission submitted a study of the principles and conditions to which, in its judgement, any satisfactory solution should conform, and made various proposals and suggestions as to how an agreement embodying these principles and conditions might be brought about.
In spite of the care which had evidently been taken to preserve complete impartiality between the conflicting views of China and Japan, the effect of the Report was a substantial vindication of the Chinese case on all fundamental issues. In particular, the Commission stated that the operations of the Japanese Army following on the Mukden incident would not be regarded as measure of legitimate self-defence. As regards the State of Manchukuo, it concluded that the new State could not have been formed without the presence of Japanese troops and the activities of Japanese officials; that it had no general Chinese support; and that it could not be considered to have been called into existence by a genuine and spontaneous independent movement.
Essentially the League did not endorse Japan's policies towards China during the Manchurian Crisis, and as a result Japan withdrew from the League.
[edit] Meanwhile
Meanwhile, the situation had changed since the commission was formed. Japan had formed a puppet government in Manchuria known as Manchukuo. Japan was so displeased with the report that on March 27, 1933, they officially gave the League their 2 year withdrawal notice.
[edit] The Results
In the end, the Lytton Report basically served to show the weaknesses of the League. Instead of fast action, 6 months passed before the report was released. Because of this, the situation changed and with Japan's withdrawal from the League itself, the report ended up becoming more of a showpiece than actual working diplomacy.
