Why didn't the hoover administration respond more strongly to japan's invasion of manchuria? a. many americans believed japan should be allowed to expand its power in asia./ b. because the united states was not a member of the league of nations at the time, hoover did not feel obligated to get involved./c. the government saw the japanese as a potential ally after world war i and did not want to break diplomatic ties./d. given the demands of the depression, there was little money or will to support military action or a trade embargo.