emperor. The Japanese navy now played a
leading part in putting down the insurrection. But
it proved no victory for moderation. From then
on, civilian ministers came to be even more
dominated by the military. Japan was set on an
expansionist course. Although Britain and the US
did not wish to fight Japan, in the last resort
the issue of peace with the West would depend
on whether Japan’s aims in China were limited
or whether ambition would drive it on to seek to
destroy all Western influence in eastern and
southern Asia.
1
THE MOUNTING CONFLICT IN EASTERN ASIA, 1928–37 203
