Spanish American Diplomatic Relations Preceding the War of 1898

e United States, could have been obtained through diplomatic channels or by moral pressure ? It is to this phase of the question that we now turn our attention. If it can be shown that practically the same things could have been obtained for Cuba without resorting to arms, then it seems we must conclude that intervention was not justifiable, especially for the time being. The principal reason?at least the" strongest reason for intervention was to put an end to the struggle and its evils in Cuba. If the insurrection should" come to an end, of course the other evils, of which the United States complained, would cease. We have already seen that Spain proposed the only ,, proper way of disposing of the Maine affair, that is7to leave it to the 'decision of disinterested parties. This eliminates a very important consideration or factor, for it was largely due to the Maine that intervention took place. Even Mr. Taylor, an advocate of intervention, admits this. Mr. Woolsey and Minister Woodford also state the same thing. Leaving this out of consideration, it thus seems more than probable that intervention would not have taken place when it did. But how about the other questions ? From a study of the diplomatic correspondence which has been published, one is forced to the conclusion that Spain was gradually, but slowly and surely yielding to the demands of the United States. We have already seen how Spain yielded to the demands or requests of the United. States in r...