navy → was also discontented → with civilian government. 1922 → japan had signed agreements with Britain, France, and US → at the Washington naval conference to limit the total number of warships being built.
Compared to western powers → number of warships Japan could have → was fewer
- Military felt that civilian leaders had let them down by agreeing to the unfavorable terms of disarmament.
Countries met again at London Naval Conference in 1930 → to review the treaty and limits on building warships. at the conference → Japans demands to build more warships were rejected by western powers. Japan → forced to back down and sign the London Naval Treaty of 1930.
- Several ministers in the cabinet → refused to agree to terms of the treaty and were removed from their positions.
- Government reluctantly signed treaty as it knew country was not ready to confront western powers.
In japan:
- London Naval treaty of 1930 → presented in press and by navy commanders as a form of betrayal by govt.
- further undermined the peoples trust in the democratic government.