mar 25, 1936 - Japan withdraws from London Naval Conference

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Leading to War
At the conference, Japan resisted giving up its 1915 treaty with China. But under pressure from the other delegations it disavowed that portion of its treaty that in effect took sovereignty from the Chinese.
Japan's delegation also promised that Japan would withdraw its troops from Siberia – an occupation that was costing Japan more money than it was willing to spend and producing little if anything in return. And Japan agreed to withdraw its military forces from Kiachow Bay and from elsewhere in northern China. It agreed to share with the United States the right to establish and maintain cable and radio stations and residences on the island of Yap in the Caroline Islands. In return, the US consented to Japan's mandate of the Pacific Islands north of the equator that had been granted Japan at Paris – thousands of islands that Japan could use as coaling, cable and radar stations and as naval bases. And the British and Americans agreed to build no naval bases west of Hawaii or north of Singapore.
The report from Washington of Japan having agreed to a smaller navy was greeted back home in Japan with indignation. Japan's Chief of the Naval Board, Commander Kato Kanji, was so upset that he described a war between the United States and Japan as having begun. The unpopularity of the treaty in Japan led to a loss of influence for Japan's Foreign Office, largely responsible for the treaty. Favor in Japan regarding foreign affairs shifted to the military, especially to its younger officers, who were zealous in their desire that Japan pursue its interests in Asia independent of agreements with Western powers.
Britain emerged from the Washington Naval Conference disturbed by Japan's demand concerning naval bases in the Pacific. This had given warning to the British that Japan was a potential enemy. Britain's treaty with Japan would have obliged it to go to war on the side of Japan should war break out between Japan and the United States. Britain decided not to renew its military treaty with Japan. With this, any constraining influence upon Japan that Britain had would diminish. Britain maintained its long-standing plan to build a first-class naval base at Singapore. And in Japan, those most aggressive in cheering their nation's power viewed Britain, the Netherlands and the US as having increased their potential as enemies.
United States: Interventionalist

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