In the previous article on world history, I talked about the outbreak of World War I, which involved not only the Balkan Peninsula and Europe but also Africa and Asia, causing enormous damage to the general public.
I will summarize how it changed after the Western Front, where France, Britain and Germany collided, became stalemate.
In this article, the German-Austrian camp is Central Powers . , Britain / France / Russia camp cooperating I will proceed with the story.
Participation in countries other than the European powers
As the stalemate continues and the number of victims continues to increase, the parties to the war will work to attract neutral nations. Neutral nations eventually joined the camps they supported, and the front line expanded and intensified.
Here, I will touch on the participation of Japan, the Ottoman Empire, Italy, and Bulgaria, which participated later.
Japan's participation in the war (1914) and 21 demands
The reason why Japan participated in the war is Anglo-Japanese Alliance There was (1902). Anglo-Japanese Alliance Is an alliance originally formed for Russia and has been greatly helped in the Russo-Japanese War.
The Prime Minister's Shigenobu Okuma is in the midst of disagreements that "it does not directly lead to national interests" despite receiving a request from Britain to participate in the war. Participation as a trading nation without parliamentary approval or negotiations with the military commander I have decided. This will lead to worsening relations between the government and the military in the future, but this is a little further.
Occupation of the South Sea Islands
Japan, which participated in the war like that, is likely to go to the German-controlled South Sea Islands and China, but because of the British colonies and the west coast of the United States directly facing the Pacific Ocean. He was reluctant to occupy, saying that it could stimulate both countries.
However, as the German East Indies Fleet became more active, the public opinion of the British colonial government toward Japan settled down. Taking this opportunity, Japan decided to occupy the South Sea Islands and actually seized it . It was.
Against China
Qing in China before the beginning of World War I Is considerably weakened. On the contrary, in the Qing dynasty, in 1911-12, the Yin Metal Pig Has occurred and is facing an internal collapse. Mongolia And the first republic in Asia, Republic of China Is established and Qing is destroyed. On top of that, it was a situation that was cut out by the great powers.
Germany was wary of Japan and was trying to tell China "I will return what I borrowed so far", but Japan ignored this and declared war on Germany. Jiaozhou Bay dominated by Germany Qingdao Is occupying.
Twenty-One Requests for China
January 18, 1915. Japan urged the Chinese government to approve the dominant bargaining position and transfer German interests to South Manchuria and Inner Mongolia in the east. So-called " Twenty-One Requests for China ], The Okuma Cabinet pointed out.
This request is
- Europe couldn't afford to look at the situation in Asia
- Having a trauma that was robbed by Germany, Russia, and France due to Triple Intervention while having signed a treaty to win the Sino-Japanese War (1894-95) and ceded the Liaodong Peninsula.
- The expiration date of a part of the Lushun, Dalian, and South Manchuria Railways, which was obtained by defeating Russia, a major country at the cost of the Russo-Japanese War, was approaching until 1923 (Russia has). The right of Manchuria Railway was just transferred to Japan as it was, and it was a short-term lease right.)
- The great powers have signed a loan agreement [Shikoku Loan, 1910, Gokoku Loan, 1913] It was like developing in China.
Against this background, it is said that public opinion demanded the superior position of South Manchuria and Inner Mongolia in the east.
However, although the original purpose was to request an extension of the concession right, the fact that the interest could not be adjusted due to the interests within the government and the request finally swelled to 21 articles was criticized both domestically and internationally. I did.
After all, the request will be withdrawn later, but the reason why the Japanese side participated in the war is exactly this request. Advance into China. .. .. Above all, I wanted to get Manchurian interests.
Participation in the Ottoman Empire (1914)
Young Turk Revolution Since then, the Ottoman Empire has been in power by the revolutionary Young Turks (collective term for activists). Italo War Due to the two Balkan Wars and the internal division caused by the revolution, I wanted to aim for armed neutrality, but I was in a state where I could not maintain it militarily unless I belonged to some of the great powers.
Russia, with its ambitions on the Balkans, is also interested in its involvement with the Ottoman Empire, but after all Russia's closest ally is France.
This is a long-standing enemy of the Ottoman Empire in France.
Napoleon's expedition to Egypt began to reduce the territory of the Ottoman Empire, and his support for the Greek War of Independence, the dispatch of troops to Algeria in North Africa, where the empire has sovereignty, and his feelings toward France were honestly not very good.
Furthermore, despite the fact that Britain cooperated with the Ottoman Empire in the Navy, the Ottoman Empire unilaterally requisitioned the battleship ordered by the Ottoman Empire for fear of entering the war as the German side, and public opinion within the empire. Was in a rage.
On the other hand, for Germany, the military advisory group was invited to rebuild the country (mainly the Army), and the result was settled in the form of an almost overwhelming victory in the Greco-Turkish War (1897). It overlapped and the favorable impression was high.
In addition, shortly after the outbreak of the war, two warships of the German Mediterranean Fleet were evacuated to the Ottoman Empire. Since the Ottoman Empire was still neutral at this point, it was negotiated to transfer the German fleet to the Ottoman Navy to maintain its position. This case greatly contributed to the dramatic enhancement of the Imperial Japanese Navy.
Even in the Navy, Britain lowered its stock, and Germany's favorability increased.
In addition to the above background, it was initially superior on the European front, so it was a Central Powers . He decided to form an alliance with him and participate in the war.
Having said that, it seems that the decision was quite difficult, as there seemed to be pros and cons within the Cabinet asking, "Is the alliance with Germany and Austria correct?"
Italy's participation in the war (1915)
Triple Alliance Italy, a corner, did not participate in the war even though it had formed an alliance while other countries were participating in the war one after another. This is of course questionable.
Italy is the so-called [ uncollected Italy ] The Allies approached Italy on the condition that they ceded part of this territory because they had formed an alliance with Austria on a territorial dispute called.
Thus, the London Secret Treaty Italy withdraws from the Tripartite Pact after concluding (promising the territory of "Italian irredentism" signed between Britain, France and Russia) After that, participate in the war as a trading country I did.
Participation in Bulgaria (1915)
The Kingdom of Bulgaria entered the war after Italy.
This country is Second Balkan War In, they turned to the enemies of other Balkan countries and became isolated and weakened by the defeat, but both camps were working to make them participate in the war.
Bulgaria's hope was that the territory stolen by Serbia (the camp of the cooperative nation) in the Second Balkan War was a major premise, and as of the fall of 1915 when it was decided to participate in the war, it was in the advantage of the Central Powers of World War. Participation on the Central Powers side doing.
Secret diplomacy by the United Kingdom and the conclusion of a treaty
As the war prolonged and became a total war, both camps began to unite, and they began to focus on diplomatic negotiations as if they were pulling out a neutral country.
Occasionally, I had a secret diplomacy externally. Participation in Italy and Bulgaria can be said to be the result of secret diplomacy (in addition, Romania (the allies) also participates in secret diplomacy).
In addition, diplomatic negotiations were actively conducted in the Middle East.
- Hussein-McMahon Agreement :Britain's promise to Arabs to build an Arab nation from the Ottoman Empire
- Sykes-Pico Agreement :The division of the Ottoman Empire between Britain, France and Russia and a secret agreement with Palestine as an international zone
- Balfour Declaration :Britain declares Palestine to build a Jewish state
The United Kingdom has signed the above treaties and agreements.
In order to win the war, he approached him in anticipation of a rebellion by the Arabs in the Ottoman Empire, regardless of his pretense, or made a completely contradictory promise. .. .. He was approaching diplomacy with a tail until later (the main purpose of attracting Jews was to withdraw war expenses).
Where was the contradiction?- Hussein-McMahon Agreement Sykes-Pico Agreement while saying, "You can create an Arab nation within the Ottoman Empire." Then, I tried to divide the territory of the Ottoman Empire other than Palestine into the three countries of Britain, France and Russia.
- Sykes-Pico Agreement While saying, "Let's manage Palestine together," Balfour Declaration Promised to the Jews that "it is okay to build a country in Palestine".
These conventions do not take into account the Arabs (Palestinians) living in Palestine in the Ottoman Empire, and the current Palestinian issue . It is a distant cause of.
Britain is called triple-tongue diplomacy or double-tongue diplomacy because of these contradictory diplomacy during World War I.
In addition, we have promised autonomy to our colony, India, and are asking for their cooperation.
What happened towards the end of World War
Finally through diplomacy etc.
20 partner countries vs. 4 Central Powers of World War (Germany, Dual Alliance, Ottoman Empire, Bulgaria)
It was.
In terms of the number of countries, it was overwhelmingly advantageous to the trading nations, but the Central Powers of World War are also quite tenacious. Eventually, it became a total war, and the direction was "let's stop the conflict between political parties" and "let's unite and cooperate with the people".
General public other than soldiers. .. .. For example, for women, factory labor Even if we were doing (production of weapons and ammunition, etc.), we couldn't settle, so in the end, the general public was also targeted for attack, and many types of killing weapons were introduced.
Among them, Germany Unrestricted Submarine Operation in 1917. Start running. It is a ridiculous strategy that "ships sailing outside the designated waterways will sink without warning."
This was to "attack without a neutral nation relationship".
* In 1915, a submarine operation was carried out and a passenger ship was attacked. At this time, 128 Americans in a neutral country were killed, and the US government protested against Germany. The operation is withdrawn, but American national sentiment leans toward anti-Germany.
This strategy is as a trading nation American participation Was urged.
It is encouraging to have about 2 million soldiers sent in, and the industrial productivity of the United States is already the highest in the world. The supply of supplies is also in sight, and the allies will come back to life.
In the same year, Eastern Front But there was movement. Germany Unrestricted Submarine Operation When it was declared to be implemented and American participation During the Russian Revolution Happened.
Next time, I will talk about the participation of the United States and Russia that has left.