Changes

==Japanese Invasion==

==Japanese Invasion==

In 1932, Japan had invaded [[Manchuria]] and established the puppet state of [[Manchukuo]]. In 1937, Japanese military forces attacked the Marco Polo bridge in near [[Beijing]], defeating the Chinese nationalist defenders and gaining a strategic river crossing. Three days after the battle, [[Chiang Kai-Shek]] declared [[Total War]] on Japanese forces in China.

In 1932, Japan had invaded [[Manchuria]] and established the puppet state of [[Manchukuo]]. In 1937, Japanese military forces attacked the Marco Polo bridge in near [[Beijing]].

On July 7, 1937 Japanese troops stationed in North China, under terms of the [[Boxer Protocol of 1900]], clashed with elements of the [[Kuomintang]] army near the Marco Polo Bridge, ten miles west of Beijing. Three days after the battle, [[Chiang Kai-Shek]] declared [[Total War]] on Japanese forces in China.  An all-out Japanese invasion of 400,000 soldiers followed.  By the end of the month, Beijing was occupied and the following month [[Shanghai]] (See [[Battle of Shanghai]]), [[Nanjing]], and [[Shanxi]] were attacked. Japanese military forces eventually gained control of all three cities, though were met with fierce Chinese resistance.

Immediately following the battle of Marco Polo bridge, Japan sent close to 400,000 soldiers to attack [[Shanghai]] (See [[Battle of Shanghai]]), [[Nanjing]], and [[Shanxi]]. Japanese military forces eventually gained control of all three cities, though were met with fierce Chinese resistance.

In the U.S., the [[The Neutrality Act]] required the President to implement its provisions when a state of war existed, but [[Franklin D. Roosevelt|Roosevelt]] did not invoke the act. FDR permitted American munitions to be shipped via British ships destined for Hong Kong.  ''[[Time magazine]]'' speculated, "though in the long run Japan might need U. S. supplies more than China, the immediate effect of an embargo would be to the advantage of Japan, whose ships could still presumably conduct a "cash and carry" trade with the U. S."<ref>[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,930929-1,00.html Manslaughter in Shanghai], ''Time'' magazine, Aug. 30, 1937.</ref>

Most of the Japanese attacks were launched against Nationalist-held territory, not Communist.  Thus Chiang's policy of giving up territory and not launching counter-attacks was interpreted  

Most of the Japanese attacks were launched against Nationalist-held territory, not Communist.  Thus Chiang's policy of giving up territory and not launching counter-attacks was interpreted