As the 1930s opened, the British Empire was everywhere recognised as a Great Power. Its rule extended over one-fifth of the earth's land surface; it encompassed the largest population of any 'State' in the world; it controlled one-sixth of the world's trade. In truth, the Empire was tragically fragile. Both Britain and the Dominions had disarmed to the point of impotence, so that when Japan occupied Manchuria in 1931 and attacked Shanghai, the centre of British trade in China, in the following year, they were unable to respond. British defence chiefs declared Japan's success to be 'the writing on the wall'. Despite these warnings, British politicians chose to appease the Japanese at the cost of seriously damaging the League of Nations, and to avoid spending money on defence in the Far East. Despite the concerns of the Dominions-Australia, New Zealand, and Canada-the scene was set for the total collapse of Britain's Empire in the East within a decade. This book will be of interest to students and researchers of history.
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