Page 64 - Il Mediterraneo quale elemento del Potere Marittimo - Atti 16-18 settembre 1996

50 YOCHI HIRAMA

ting her goods to markets which had previously been those of the British and other
Allies. Japan endeavoured to moderate the anti-Japanese feeling aroused among the
Allies. After arriving in the Mediterranean, the activites of the Second Special Squa-
dron was often given favourable reports in newspapers. For example, the Time.r
reported in headline of Japan's cc Speedy arrival and seamanlike handling", "Good
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seamanship and greatest rapidity of action" < >. The Japanese Naval Attache for
Italy also spoke to an American pressman that during the month of operation that
the Japanese Navy had sunk 15 German submarines in cooperation with the Ame-
rican Navy <65>. These reports might have helped to depress the anti:Japanese fee-
ling which arose among the Allies.

Acquisition of the German Pacific Islands
In addition to the above reasons, Japan· strongly wished to realize the aquisi-
tion of the German Pacific Islands. When Japan occupied the North German-owned
Islands, on 1st December 1914, Minister Kato handed to Ambassador Greene a
confidential Memorandum in which he stated that having regard to the very wide
operations in which Imperial navy is and has been engaged in cooperation with
the British navy, the nation would naturally insist on retaining permanently all the
German islands lying north of the equator, and the Imperial Government would
rely on support of His Majesty's Government when the proper time arrived for
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the fulfillment of the above object < >. On 19th October 1915, at the signing of
the London Declaration, Japan again expressed its claim to the possession of the
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German Pacific Islands < >. Then at the negotiation over the despatch of a squa-
dron to the Mediterranean, Japan again requested guarantee to acquire of the Ger-
man Pacific Islands and inheritance of the German interests in Shuntung Peninsula.
Minister Motomo expressed at the negotiation that cc since Japan had declared that
it would return Kiaochow to China, the aspiration of the Japanese people were
directed to the German Islands in the Pacific, and ... they appear to the Japanese
people as the only momento of their sacrifices in the war, and .. .if the islands did
not become a possession, Japanese public indignation might reach an unexpected
pitch. Ambassador Chinda in London was instructed to approach the British Go-
vernment on this matter and he succeded in obtaining British guarantee of support
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for Japan's claim to the South Pacific Islands at the peace conference < >. On 2nd
February 1917, Minister Balfour expressed to Ambassador Chinda his willingness
to comply, and on 13th he replied that the British Government would guarantee
support of Japan's claim to the islands north of the Equator on condition that Ja-
panese Government also would support Britain's claim to the islands south of the
equator. On 16th February, a similar memorandum was sent to Foreign Minister
6
Motono < 9>.
After effects of despatch to the Mediterranean
As has been mentioned· above, the Allies felt that Japan Japan felt it always
asked for compensation in what they regarded as marked contrast to her small