Page "League of Nations" Paragraph 68

The League of Nations agreed to a request for help from the Chinese government, but the long voyage by ship delayed League officials.

When they arrived, they were confronted with Chinese assertions that the Japanese had invaded unlawfully, while the Japanese claimed they were acting to keep peace in the area.

Despite Japan's high standing in the League, the subsequent Lytton Report declared Japan to be the aggressor and demanded Manchuria be returned to the Chinese.

Before the report could be voted on by the Assembly, Japan announced its intention to push further into China.

The report passed 42 – 1 in the Assembly in 1933 ( only Japan voting against ), but instead of removing its troops from China, Japan withdrew from the League.