ABSTRACT
Japan had fought on the Allied side in the First World War, and received some former German colonies thereafter. The Japanese silk industry was particularly hit by trade restrictions imposed by the United States and China, and many people suffered great privations. Manchuria was ostensibly a Chinese province, although in practice the Chinese control was weak. American policy was gradually becoming hostile to Japan; but the Americans had no sympathy with the European imperialists, and were quite willing to see their influence collapse. During the Second World War, the Japanese developed the idea of a co-prosperity scheme involving other countries in the Pacific area, under Japanese leadership. In the German cartoon, Japan and the League of Nations, the various children are in charge of a senile League of Nations. The Evening Standard cartoon is even more astringent.
