Many historians regard the Japanese invasion of Manchuria in 1931 as the opening shot of the Second World War. This careful examination of the American reaction to Japan's action is a study in decision making and public opinion. It analyzes the influence of public attitudes on the American attempt to respond to the crisis and concludes that despite stereotypes of an aloof and isolationist United States, serious efforts were made to thwart Japanese imperialism. Illustrated.

This book explores the reactions to the Manchurian crisis of different sections of the state, and of a number of different groups in Japanese society, particularly rural groups, women's organizations and business associations. It thus seeks to avoid a generalized account of public relations to the military and diplomatic events of the early 1930s, offering instead a nuanced account of the shifts in public and popular opinion in this crucial period.