The Minseito Cabinet had been trying to pursue a “friendly policy”
toward China. Baron Shidehara, the Foreign Minister, wanted friendly
relations with all countries. In this way he sought to foster Japan’s
foreign trade, and thus solve Japan’s economic problems. But he could
not control the army, especially after the depression had cut down
trade and brought unrest to Japan.
During the summer of 1931 a series of “incidents” occurred in
Manchuria, in which the hand of the military was plainly to be seen. At
home in Japan the army used these incidents to arouse popular support
for “positive” action in defense of supposedly threatened Japanese
interests. General Minami, new War Minister in the Cabinet, openly
supported this propaganda campaign. Baron Shidehara attempted to reach
a peaceful settlement of the Manchurian issues. But in vain. On
September 18, 1931--the historic date we mentioned at the beginning of
this book--the army struck in Manchuria. The “Mukden incident”--alleged
blowing up of a section of the South Manchuria Railway track--served as
an excuse for the Japanese army to occupy the chief Manchurian cities.
This independent _coup d’état_ by the army dealt a fatal blow to
the Minseito Cabinet. Baron Shidehara was forced into the position
of apologizing for the army’s actions, though he must have heartily
detested them. On December 11, 1931 the Cabinet resigned.