Italy demanded that the Chinese Empire grant it a lease for a naval coaling station at China’s Sanmen Bay (known as “San-Mun Bay” to the Italians) similar to the lease the German Empire had secured in 1898 at Kiautschou Bay.

Believing the opportunity to pursue Italy’s interests in China was at hand, Canevaro had de Martino pass Italy’s demands to the Chinese imperial government in the winter of 1899, but the Chinese summarily rejected them on 4 March 1899. On 8 March, Canevaro instructed De Martino to present the demands again as an ultimatum and authorized the armored cruiser Marco Polo and protected cruiser Elba to occupy the bay.

De Martino presented the Italian ultimatum to China again on 10 March 1899, and China immediately refused to comply. Italy withdrew its ultimatum, becoming at the end of the 19th century the first and only Western power to fail to achieve its territorial goals in China.

“SURRENDER OR WE WILL USE FORCE.”

“No.”

“O-oh… o-okay… w-we’ll leave then…”