Lytton Report

Lytton Report was a report generated by a League of Nations commission to try to resolve the Manchurian Crisis.

Contents

1 The Commission 2 The Report 3 Meanwhile 4 The Results 5 Sources

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 on December 10, 1932 on a fact finding mission to ascertain facts on the growing crisis between Japan and China in regards to the region of Manchuria.

The Report

In April of 1933, the group filed their report. It stated that Japan was clearly the aggressor in the situation. However, the Chinese were found not to help the situation by inflaming anti-Japanese passions in Manchuria and by not participating in negotiations with Japan. Therefore, the commission decided that Manchuria should become an autonomous region, but with Japan having physical control.

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 May 27th, 1933, they officially gave the League their 2 year withdrawal notice.

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.

Sources

• US History.com site