Short Chronology
- 18th September 1931: Manchurian Incident 満州事変 (Japanese) / 九一八事変 (Chinese) - attack on railway lines near Mukden 奉天 (today Shenyang 沈阳), initiated by officers of the Kwantung Army 関東軍.
65th Council Session, Geneva, September 1931 (Source: League of Nations Photo Archive)
- 19th September 1931: Opening meeting of the 65th Council of the League of Nations which discusses the events in Manchuria.
- 21st September 1931: China officially calls the League of Nations and the USA for actions to maintain peace.
- 30th September 1931: Resolution of the 65th Council of the League of Nations about the withdrawal of Japanese troops.
- 8th October 1931: Bombing of Jinzhou 錦州爆撃 in the Liaoning 辽宁/遼寧 province, Chinese appeal to the League about the continuing Japanese invasion.
- 16th October 1931: Meeting of the Council of the League of Nations with participation of the USA; debates on the Sino-Japanese conflict.
- 19th November 1931: Occupation of Tsitsihar (Qiqihar 齐齐哈尔/斉斉哈爾/チチハル) in the Heilongjiang province by Japanese troops.
- 21st November 1931: During debates within the Council of the League of Nations, Japan proposes an international commission of enquiry.
- 10th December 1931: Resolution of the 65th Council of the League of Nations to send “a neutral commission” (Lytton Report: 6)
- 3rd January 1932: Conquest of Chinchow (Jinzhou) by Japanese troops and continuing conquest of the three Northeastern Provinces.
- 7th January 1932: Stimson-Doctrine: US Secretary of State Henry L. Stimson declares the non-recognition of territorial changes carried out by use of military force.
- 28th January - 3 March 1932: Shanghai Incident 上海事変 (Japanese) / 一・二八事変 (Chinese): the Japanese army attacks the city of Shanghai, leading to the Shanghai Ceasefire Agreement (5th May 1932).
- 29th January - 20th February 1932: China modifies its politics towards the League of Nations: hitherto handled as a case related to article 11 of the Covenant, the question is now discussed under article 15. This transfers the Sino-Japanese question from the close circle of the League’s Council to the public platform of the Assembly.
- 3rd February 1932: Members of the League of Nations Commission of Inquiry, constituted in January and named after its chairman Lord Lytton, leave Europe for their first destination, New York.
- 18th February 1932: Proclamation of the new state of Manchukuo 満洲国
Special Session of the Assembly Convened in Virtue of Article 15 of the Covenant at the Request of the Chinese Government. Geneva, 1932 (Source: League of Nations Photo Archive)
- 3rd March - 9th December 1932: The League Assembly takes over the question of the Far Eastern Conflict (Special Session in Virtue of Article 15 of the Covenant), deciding to establish a special commission (the Committee of 19).
- 20th April 1932: The Lytton Commission travels to Dairen 大連/大连.
- 4th September 1932: The Lytton Report is signed in Beijing 北京; the commission members travel to Geneva via the Trans-Siberian railway.
- 1st October 1932: Publication and distribution of the Lytton Report in several languages.
- 6th - 8th December 1932: Debates on the Lytton Report in the League Special Session of the Assembly. Based on the Lytton Report, the Special Committee (Committee of 19) elaborates a statement on the Sino-Japanese question.
- 24th February 1933: The League Assembly adopts the statement of the special committee, confirming the violation of the League of Nations Covenant by Japan and the non-recognition of the state of Manchukuo.
- 27th March 1933: Japan declares to leave the League of Nations.
- 26th March 1935: Japan officially withdraws from the League of Nations (two years after the announcement in accordance with Article 1 of the League Covenant)