The notion that expansion through military conquest would solve Japan's economic problems gained currency during the Great Depression of the 1930s.It was argued that the rapid growth of Japan's population which was 65 million in 1930 needed large food imports.To sustain such imports, Japan had to be able to export.Western tariffs limited exports, while discriminatory legislation in many countries and anti Japanese racism served as barriers to emigration.Chinese and Japanese efforts to secure racial equality in the league of nations covenant had been rejected by western statesmen.
